Hideki Matsuyama edged out Alex Noren in a play-off to win the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Problem, as Scottie Scheffler missed out on finishing a three-peat within the Bahamas.
Matsuyama and Noren went into the ultimate spherical three strokes behind Sepp Straka however charged into rivalry with final-round 64s at Albany GC, leaving each gamers on 22 below and taking the competition to a primary play-off since 2013.
The gamers returned to the par-four 18th for the play-off, the place Noren was unable to match his final-hole birdie in regulation as Matsuyama fired his strategy to a few toes and rolled in a successful birdie.
Straka ended a shot again in third, whereas Scheffler – who had completed no worse than second in every of his final 4 appearances on the occasion – ended two again in tied-fourth alongside US Open champion JJ Spaun.
Justin Rose posted a final-round 66 to maneuver into sixth spot forward of Corey Conners, with Harris English, Wyndham Clark and Cameron Younger finishing the highest 10 on the occasion benefiting Woods’ basis.
How Matsuyama pipped Noren to Bahamas title
Matsuyama – enjoying alongside Noren within the penultimate group – made his transfer by posting 5 birdies in a seven-hole stretch from the third and holing out from the green to eagle the par-four tenth.
The previous Masters champion added one other birdie on the thirteenth earlier than closing his spherical with 5 straight pars, with Noren transferring alongside him on the prime of the leaderboard after three birdies in his final 4 holes.
“I’m super proud,” Noren stated. “It was just amazing to get in this field. I think it’s an honour to play in a tournament having his name on there and everything he does for charity and his whole foundation. It feels extra special to show up and perform when you get an invite.”
Matsuyama’s victory is his second on the Hero World Problem and the primary since 2016, with the win his first worldwide success since making a successful begin to the 2025 PGA Tour season at The Sentry.
Straka appeared answerable for the match after beginning with the 54-hole lead after which posting 4 birdies in a front-nine 32, solely to combine two birdies with as many bogeys throughout a disappointing again 9.
Spaun made a late transfer with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the thirteenth, lifting him to twenty below, whereas Scheffler slipped out of rivalry after posting back-to-back bogeys on his again 9.
Scottie Scheffler was in search of a seventh worldwide win of the yr
“I played better than my score, for sure,” Scheffler stated. “Didn’t hole as many putts today. I felt like I hit some good ones that didn’t fall and I got a couple poor breaks on the back nine. I did a lot of good stuff.”
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