Jordan Spieth has Tiger Woods to thank for PGA | Golf News

Two-time defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is set to lead the pack at the Hero World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods.

He’ll be joined by Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel and Akshay Bhatia, all of whom acquired last-minute invitations to the event, slated for early December 2025 in the Bahamas. However, Woods will sit this one out due to current back surgical procedure.

Typically, Woods both hosts and competes in the event on a sponsor’s invite. But his current incapacity to take part opens up an further spot, with Spieth among the three who’ve been called up to fill the hole left by Woods’ recovery.

In associated news, Kai Trump, granddaughter of President Donald Trump and daughter of Woods’ current girlfriend, Vanessa, is gearing up for her LPGA Tour debut on a sponsor’s invite. She’s anticipated to cross paths with Caitlin Clark, who hasn’t been shy about expressing her opinions.

The 20-player lineup for the Hero World Challenge will characteristic 5 of the top-10 gamers globally. Jordan Spieth, who last competed in the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship in July where he completed T-31, will return to motion.

Spieth, who received the Hero World Challenge in 2014 and set a number of event information, was one of the last gamers to obtain an invite to the event.

Scheffler stands as one of only three former winners in the 2025 lineup, alongside 2016 victor Hideki Matsuyama and Spieth. A complete of 9 Ryder Cup stars will also compete in the Bahamas, that includes European champions like Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka.

Team USA skipper Keegan Bradley will spherical out the sector.

Several gamers will make their Hero World Challenge debut, including J. J. Spaun, Chris Gotterup, and Andrew Novak, though this will not mark Spieth’s first look.

The former world No. 1 hasn’t tasted PGA Tour victory in three years heading into the 2025 marketing campaign.

Spieth underwent wrist surgical procedure last August before returning at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. His T-4 end at the next week’s Phoenix Open represented one of just three top-10 showings this season.

Ex-broadcaster and host Gary Williams believes Spieth can rediscover his championship kind.

“I look at him, and I thought this past season was encouraging, and I thought he was very transparent,” Williams remarked. “It was Gabby Herzig who asked the question about goal setting when he showed up at Pebble Beach.

“He talked about how it wasn’t so a lot targets; it was the aspiration of experiencing sure issues before he obtained to the Masters, and I believed he really did those issues. We know, even if he is in a mummified state at Augusta National, he lives in the top 10 there. He completed tied-14th, which is admirable.

“I think Spieth has not only a state of mind… Look, he has a family. I think that he is incredibly comfortable with who he is, but is also still intensely competitive. I think he’s going to win in 2026. I think that he will contend at Augusta National because he always does.”