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2021 Hero World Challenge: Top 10 power rankings at Albany

By Mike Randleman

December 2, 2017; New Providence, The Bahamas; Detail view of the trophy on the first hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 2, 2017; New Providence, The Bahamas; Detail view of the trophy on the first hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 28, 2017; New Providence, The Bahamas; Jordan Spieth (left) shakes hands with Tiger Woods (right) on the driving range during Tuesday’s practice round of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 28, 2017; New Providence, The Bahamas; Jordan Spieth (left) shakes hands with Tiger Woods (right) on the driving range during Tuesday’s practice round of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Jordan Spieth is teeing it up for the fifth time at Albany. Outside of a clunker (16th) in 2019 when his game was near its low point, he’s had some solid results at this course.

Spieth finished fourth (67-66-68-67) in his debut in 2015, T-6th (68-69-70-70) in 2016 and T-3rd (68-67-72-69) in 2017.

Spieth won the Hero in 2014 at Isleworth Country Club.

The Texan is used to playing in windy conditions. That was part of his description of Albany when first setting eyes on it in 2015.

“Bubba will like it, there’s nothing blocking the tee shots,” Spieth was transcribed by Tee Scripts. “It’s very exposed to the wind. You’ve got to keep it in between the sand areas because once you get into those it’s very spotty, you either get a good break or a bad break. So if you can control the wind nicely off the tee you’ll be able to hit into these small greens with less club and that’s key, I think, is going to be greens in regulation.”

The 28-year-old cooled down a bit toward the end of 2021, but there’s no denying it was still an incredibly resurgent year for the former world No. 1.

Spieth dropped to 92nd in the Official World Golf Rankings after a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. He shook it off to post four top-10s and a top-15 in his next six starts before winning his first event in four years at the Texas Open.

The former Texas Longhorn surprisingly didn’t win again, though he added a T-3rd finish at the Masters, solo second at Colonial and solo second at the Open Championship.

We last saw Spieth in action in mid-October at the CJ Cup where he finished T-18th. With plenty of rest leading in, I envision Spieth posting a good week and inching closer back to the top 10 in the world for the first time since 2018.

Spieth was 41st last season on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.365) and sixth in SG around the green (.407). His weakness off the tee should be mitigated at a spacious course like Albany.

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