Tiger Woods hands PGA Tour star chance to | Golf News

Billy Horschel loved a triumphant conclusion to last season, finally claiming a PGA Tour victory for the first time in practically two years at the Corales Puntacana Championship — and now Tiger Woods has handed him one of the ultimate spots at his exclusive Bahamas event.

Horschel joins Jordan Spieth and Akshay Bhatia as the trio receiving the last invites to the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this December. The golfer has skilled a turbulent profession journey and, last 12 months, went on to compete in an electrifying playoff at the BMW PGA Championship following his Puntacana triumph, finally defeating Rory McIlroy.

Horschel subsequently started experiencing hip discomfort and underwent surgical procedure in May of 2025 as a precautionary step after the RBC Heritage, only making his comeback in September at the BMW PGA Championship — an event Horschel captured in both 2021 and 2024.

However, he admitted he genuinely thought 2025 would mark his breakthrough major championship 12 months. “I felt this was going to be the year I get over the hump and make the Ryder Cup team, win a major, check some things off of my career goals,” Horschel said.

“And I wasn’t playing bad but look back and swing-wise, it was a little bit of a struggle and I didn’t know why. And the Monday after Hilton Head I woke up with a sudden pain in my hip that I had never felt before.”

Currently, Horschel is stepping into Woods’ place at the golf legend’s own event. The 20-player lineup for the 2025 event will characteristic 5 of the world’s top-10 golfers.

Nine Ryder Cup gamers will also be in the Bahamas, including some champions from Europe such as Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka. Team USA captain, Keegan Bradley, will also be in the sphere.

Some people are also making their debut at the Hero World Challenge, including J.J. Spaun, Chris Gotterup, and Andrew Novak, but this is not Horschel’s first go around at the event.

Horschel has participated in 14 Tour tournaments this season, securing two top-10 finishes. He lately competed at the Bank of Utah last week, ending at T-11, and goals to clinch victory at Woods’ December event.