BAHAMAS · GOLF
Key Facts
- —The event The Hero World Challenge is a 20-player PGA Tour golf event hosted by Tiger Woods in the Bahamas each December.
- —Dates The four rounds run from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026; tournament week starts on Monday 30 November.
- —Venue Albany, a 600-acre oceanside resort with a course designed by Ernie Els, on New Providence, the island of the capital, Nassau.
- —Times (local and ET) The Bahamas keeps US Eastern time, so local and ET are the same; 2026 gate and tee times are not out yet.
- —Tickets A limited number of grounds tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, linked from the tournament website; prices are not shown there.
- —How to watch in the US The PGA Tour lists GOLF Channel, NBC and Peacock as the broadcasters for the 2026 edition.
- —For US visitors The State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of crime (updated 27 July 2026).
The Hero World Challenge returns to Albany, a resort on New Providence island in the Bahamas, from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026. Tiger Woods hosts the 20-player PGA Tour event, which is played on the same clock as New York.
A limited number of grounds tickets for the Hero World Challenge are on sale now through Ticketmaster, the tournament says. In the United States, the PGA Tour lists GOLF Channel, NBC and Peacock as the broadcasters.
What the Hero World Challenge Is
The Hero World Challenge is an invitation event run by TGR Live, the events company linked to Tiger Woods. It brings 20 of the world’s leading golfers to one course for four rounds in early December.
The organisers say the tournament was first held in January 2000 and spent years on the US West Coast and one year in Florida. It moved to Albany in 2015, and every edition since has been played there.
The PGA Tour’s schedule lists a purse of US$5 million for the 2026 edition. It shows US$1 million in earnings next to Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, the defending champion.
Proceeds go to the TGR Foundation, the Tavistock Foundation and the Bahamas Youth Foundation, according to the organisers. The tournament week also includes a pro-am, hospitality pavilions and evening parties for invited guests.
Why It Matters to US Golf Fans
The Hero World Challenge offers a rare December look at leading US golfers in contention. In 2025, 13 of the 20 players came from the United States.
Scottie Scheffler won at Albany in 2023 and 2024 and returned in 2025 as the world number one. He started the last round two shots clear of Matsuyama but finished tied for fourth.
Matsuyama won the 2025 edition in a playoff against Alex Noren of Sweden after both finished 22 under par. It was the first playoff at Albany and his second win there, after 2016.
The timing is easy for viewers at home because the Bahamas keeps US Eastern time. In 2025, every television window fell in the American late morning or afternoon.
A month earlier, the PGA Tour plays the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico. That event runs from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November.
Dates and Schedule in US Eastern Time
The PGA Tour schedule lists the four rounds from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026. The tournament website gives the full week as 30 November to 6 December, including practice and pro-am days.
The organisers publish their Albany schedule in Eastern time, the same clock used in New York and Miami. A 10 a.m. start at the course is therefore a 10 a.m. start on the US East Coast.
Gate and broadcast times for 2026 have not been published yet. In 2025, gates opened at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Monday to Wednesday of tournament week were closed to the public in 2025. Those days held amateur practice rounds, an amateur outing and the official pro-am.
How to Watch in the US
The PGA Tour’s 2026 schedule names GOLF Channel, NBC and Peacock as the broadcasters for the Hero World Challenge. Peacock is the streaming service of NBC’s parent company, so it is the option for viewers without cable.
In 2025, GOLF Channel showed the first two rounds from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern on Thursday and Friday. On the weekend, GOLF Channel showed the late morning and early afternoon before NBC took over.
The 2026 broadcast windows have not been announced. The organisers posted the 2025 windows on the tournament’s spectator page, so check that page again in late November.
Who Plays at Albany
The 2026 field has not been announced. In 2025 the organisers named the 20 players after the commitment deadline, mixing top-ranked golfers with tournament invitations.
The 2025 field included US Open champion JJ Spaun, Justin Rose of England and US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel and Akshay Bhatia came in on tournament invitations.
Players came from seven countries in 2025, from the United States and Canada to Japan and Sweden. Eight of them had played in the 2025 Ryder Cup, the team match between the US and Europe.
Tickets and Hospitality
The tournament website says a limited number of grounds tickets are on sale now for the 2026 Hero World Challenge. Its buy button leads to Ticketmaster, the official seller.
Ticket prices are not shown on the tournament’s own pages. Buyers should check the full price on Ticketmaster before paying and avoid unofficial resellers.
For a bigger budget, the EIGHTEEN pavilion overlooks the 18th green and serves food and drinks. Inside-the-ropes and pro-am packages are sold on request through the organisers.
Inside-the-ropes guests walk 18 holes with a featured pairing of professionals. The package includes a photo with the players and two pavilion passes for the day.
Getting to Albany
Albany is a 600-acre oceanside resort community on New Providence, the island that is home to Nassau, the Bahamian capital. It has a 71-slip marina for large yachts and a course designed by the South African golfer Ernie Els.
In 2025, a free shuttle ran every 30 minutes between the Baha Mar resort and Albany on competition days. Riders needed a tournament ticket, wristband or credential, and the last scheduled shuttle to the course left at 2 p.m.
Spectators who drove had to enter through the East Gate, off Adelaide Road, and use public parking in Lot C at Albany. The organisers have not yet published the transport plan for 2026.
Bags were limited to 6 by 6 by 6 inches in 2025, or clear bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches. Phones were allowed on silent mode under the PGA Tour’s device rules.
Safety and Costs for Visitors
The US State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, which means exercise increased caution, because of crime. Its advisory was last updated on 27 July 2026.
US citizens need a valid US passport and proof of onward travel to enter the Bahamas, the State Department says. No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
The advisory says most crime happens in Nassau and Freeport. It warns visitors to stay alert in the Over the Hill area of Nassau, south of Shirley Street.
It also says boating in the Bahamas is not well regulated and that injuries and deaths have occurred. US government staff may not rent jet skis from independent operators on New Providence and Paradise Island.
Albany describes itself as a luxury resort community, so rooms on site are not a budget option. In 2025, fans staying elsewhere on New Providence could use the Baha Mar shuttle or drive to the East Gate.
What Is Not Confirmed Yet
The 2026 field, tee times, gate times and broadcast windows have not been announced. Ticket prices are not shown on the tournament’s own pages either.
Woods is the host, but the organisers have not said whether he will play in 2026. The shuttle route, parking and bag rules for this year are also still unpublished.
The PGA Tour lists the 2026 purse at US$5 million, but the winner’s share for this year is not shown. Players and fans should check the tournament site and Ticketmaster again once the field is named.
More: Caribbean news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hero World Challenge 2026?
The Hero World Challenge rounds run from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026 at Albany, on New Providence in the Bahamas. Tee times have not been published yet.
How do I buy Hero World Challenge tickets?
The tournament website says a limited number of grounds tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, the official seller. Prices are not shown on the tournament’s own pages.
How can I watch the Hero World Challenge in the US?
The PGA Tour lists GOLF Channel, NBC and Peacock as broadcasters for 2026. The exact broadcast windows have not been announced.
Is the Bahamas safe for golf fans?
The State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of crime. It says most crime happens in Nassau and Freeport, so stay alert there.
Sources: Hero World Challenge, official site (2026 dates; grounds and hospitality tickets on sale), accessed 13 October 2026; Hero World Challenge, tickets and packages, accessed 13 October 2026; Hero World Challenge, 2025 spectator information (gates, TV, shuttle, bag policy), accessed 13 October 2026; Hero World Challenge, 2025 field, accessed 13 October 2026; Hero World Challenge, Matsuyama wins 2025 playoff, 7 December 2025; Hero World Challenge, tournament history, accessed 13 October 2026; PGA Tour, 2026 schedule (Hero World Challenge, Dec 3-6, Albany GC; purse; broadcasters), accessed 13 October 2026; Albany Bahamas, resort overview, accessed 13 October 2026; US State Department, Bahamas travel advisory, updated 27 July 2026; US State Department, The Bahamas international travel information (entry requirements), accessed 13 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief