Hero World Challenge highlights: Scottie Scheffler among 5 tied for lead

Silly season is here, which means the PGA Tour is hosting Tiger Woods' event, the Hero World Challenge, in the Bahamas.

Twenty golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, are at Albany Golf Course playing for one of the coolest trophies in golf. Scheffler is the two-time defending champion of the event and hasn't finished worst than second in four starts.

Woods isn't playing, continuing his recovery from back surgery in October.

Follow along below for live updates, highlights and more from the opening round of the 2025 Hero World Challenge:

Hero World Challenge live leaderboard

Follow along here for live scoring updates from the first round of the Hero World Challenge.

Scottie Scheffler takes solo lead

And just like that, Scottie Scheffler is leading. It only took him 15 holes to reach 7 under and he is in front of the field. The two-time defending champ is at it again. By end of day, he would be tied with four others atop the board.

Akshay Bhatia posts 6 under

The lefty takes the clubhouse lead at 6 under, but there are plenty of others at that mark with holes to play. BEen a birdiefest early at Albany.

U.S. Open champions battle at the top

Wyndham Clark is 6 under thru 12 holes and J.J. Spaun is 5 under thru 10, and the 2023 and 2025 U.S. Open champions are holding the top-two spots on the leaderboard midway through the first round.

Scottie doing Scottie things to start

He's the two-time defending champion for a reason. Two birdies in his first three holes, including a 28-foot bomb on No. 2, and Scheffler is marching up the leaderboard.

Akshay holes out for eagle

With a new caddie on the bag, Akshay Bhatia is off to a great start, especially after holing out for eagle on the 330-yard par-4th from the greenside bunker. He moves to 3 under and is one behind Andrew Novak thru 8 holes.

Andrew Novak starts with 3 straight birdies

Can't birdie 'em all if you don't birdie the first three. Andrew Novak has done just that, adding three circles to his card to begin the day. Still plenty early in the first round, but he has a quick two-shot lead.

How to watch Thursday's first round at the Hero World Challenge

Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the Hero World Challenge from 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET Thursday.

Hero World Challenge Thursday tee times

Hero World Challenge Thursday weather

Hero World Challenge Thursday hole locations

Hero World Challenge purse, prize money

The purse at the Hero is $5 million, with the winner taking home $1 million.