Hideki Matsuyama closed out his season in spectacular fashion, rallying from three shots back with a brilliant final-round 64 before defeating Alex Noren in a playoff to win the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in Nassau.
The Japanese star, who began his year with a record-setting victory at Kapalua, bookended his season with another elite triumph, capturing Tiger Woods’ invitation-only holiday event for the second time.
Matsuyama’s round exploded to life on the 10th hole, where he holed out from 116 yards for eagle. The shot vaulted him past Sepp Straka and put the pressure squarely on Scottie Scheffler, who faltered during a rough stretch on the back nine. Matsuyama then added a 30-foot birdie at the 13th, moving to 22 under and into the lead.
But the drama was far from over.
Alex Noren, who missed the start of the season due to a hamstring injury, surged with a back-nine charge of his own. His 18-foot birdie at the 72nd hole capped a round of 64 and forced a playoff at 22-under 266.
The playoff didn’t last long.
Matsuyama flushed a 9-iron to two feet — one of his purest swings of the day — and calmly tapped in for birdie. Noren’s 20-foot attempt to extend the contest slid past the left edge, sealing a hard-earned and emotional victory.
“It was a perfect distance for me,” Matsuyama said of his playoff shot. “I was going right at it and was able to hit a great shot.”
Straka, Scheffler Stumble Down the Stretch
Straka, who led after 54 holes, finished third after a final-round 68. Scheffler — chasing a third straight win at Albany — struggled early and suffered costly bogeys at the 11th and 12th after an ambitious driver-off-the-deck attempt went sideways. His 68 left him tied for fourth with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun.
Despite the missed opportunity, Scheffler extended an incredible streak: he hasn’t finished worse than T8 in his last 16 starts dating back to March.
A Fitting Finish to a Strong Season
Matsuyama, dressed in his traditional Sunday yellow, delivered a bogey-free final round and showcased the form that has now carried him to 21 victories worldwide. His win at Albany marks his third time being handed a trophy by Tiger Woods, following his 2016 Hero World Challenge and 2024 Genesis Invitational victories.
“Tiger told me to shoot 10 under today,” Matsuyama joked afterwards. “I didn’t shoot 10 under, but I’m very happy to win this week.”
A season that started in record-breaking fashion for Matsuyama ends with a clutch playoff victory — and a reminder of why he remains one of the most dangerous players in world golf when the pressure is highest.
My Goat Sports 