Top players double dip at the Hero World Challenge
— -- NASSAU, Bahamas -- A week in the Bahamas is a pretty nice way to earn some easy holiday spending cash if you are a professional golfer both qualified and willing to play in the Hero World Challenge.
There are the obvious benefits to warm weather and ocean breezes. An 18-player field makes for manageable tee times and shorter days. All the players stayed on site at the Albany Resort, making for an easy commute. Paying homage to Tiger Woods, whose foundation is the beneficiary of the event, is a nice bonus.
There is the prize money of $3.5 million, with $1 million going to the winner and the last-place finisher assured of $100,000.
And don't sleep on those world ranking points, where the rich truly do get richer.
"It has a lot of value,'' said Paul Casey, who has made several appearances in the tournament over the years and tied for fifth this time around, 6 shots behind winner Bubba Watson. "This is Tiger's event, and it's an honor and a pleasure to play, and I played in it a bunch of times at Sherwood (Country Club, the tournament's former home in California.)
"What he does with his foundation is amazing, and if I can be here and contribute to that ... that's genuine, that's the main thing. That's an honor, and I love that part of it. Then it's a ton of world ranking points and a ton of money, and I haven't yet done my Christmas shopping.''
Casey was only partially kidding about the latter; these guys play for million-dollar paydays every week.
But there is no scoffing at the world ranking points that were offered over the weekend to a bunch of guys who are already high in the rankings. Watson received 46 points, surpassed this fall only by the WGC-HSBC Champions event in China. The Hero World Challenge was on par with the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the Frys.com Open, which began the 2015-16 season.
And only the HSBC matched the Hero World Challenge with six of the top-10 players in the world competing.
Those ranking points might not be that important to Watson, who began the week ranked fourth in the world behind Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, yet still did not move up. But he did solidify his spot there. Patrick Reed landed at No. 10 with his second-place finish.
Those points do mean quite a bit for India's Anirban Lahiri, a sponsor's invite who began the week ranked 39th in the world and moved up a few spots despite tying for last with Hideki Matsuyama. Both players made $102,500.
They mean a lot to Bill Haas, who was ranked 44th in the world and all but assured himself of remaining in the top 50 through the end of the year -- and a spot in the Masters if not already eligible -- after a tie for fifth.
Even Casey, who began the week 24th, is in search of ranking points. Among the reasons? The Olympics.
"Some guys are unsure about the whole thing, but I'm all in,'' Casey said. "I think it would be fantastic. Amazing. But first of all, I have to get myself in the team. It would be awesome. Get in the top 15 so you're guaranteed. I think it would be great. Just to go, just to have competed would be great.''
Casey would assure himself of a spot on Team Great Britain if he is among the top 15 next July -- so long as there are not four countrymen ahead of him. Presently, Justin Rose is inside the top 15, with Danny Willet next on the outside at 19th. Casey's finish at Albany Golf Club helped in that regard moved him up to 22nd.
There might not be a better example of how much this tournament helped a player than Graeme McDowell during the first year ranking points were given in 2009. He was a last-minute invitee, although he had slipped outside of the top 50 in the world after the cutoff for entry. Players are required to be among the top 50 at the time of invitation for a limited field event that offers ranking points.
McDowell finished second that year, then moved into the top 50 to earn a spot in the Masters, which helped him get a spot in the U.S. Open -- which he won.
Four years ago, tournament host Woods had slipped out of the top 50, but his victory in the tourney moved him into the top 25 and he eventually climbed back to No. 1 in the world.
"It's definitely nice to have ranking points,'' said Rickie Fowler, who finished third here. "But you can look at it either way, as if you want it to just be a relaxing week and not have them, or to have a chance here, you have to play well to get a good finish and you still have to work your butt off to earn those points. Everyone's earned their spot here; everyone deserves to be here.
"It's a fun event, [but] you still have to play some good golf.''
