Hideki Matsuyama Closes Season with Hero World Challenge Title via Playoff Drama

Hideki Matsuyama closed his season the same way he started it, with a victory. The Japanese golfer clinched the Hero World Challenge on Sunday, December 7, 2025, local time, after finishing the final round with an 8-under 64 and securing the title with a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Alex Noren.

Matsuyama, who began the year by setting the PGA Tour's scoring-to-par record with his win at Kapalua, once again displayed his class at Albany Golf Club. The pivotal moment came when he holed out from 116 yards in the fairway on the 10th hole for an eagle. That shot propelled him past Sepp Straka, overtook Scottie Scheffler, and seized the lead on the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Alex Noren, who only began his season in May due to a hamstring injury, delivered impressive play over the final nine holes. He matched Matsuyama's score with an 18-foot birdie putt on the last hole to close with a 64, leaving both tied at 22-under 266 and forcing a playoff.

But the playoff drama was short-lived. Matsuyama, known for often releasing one hand after shots even when they're good, confidently twirled his 9-iron this time. The ball landed perfectly just two feet from the cup. Noren's 20-foot birdie attempt narrowly missed to the left.

“The distance was just right for me,” Matsuyama said as quoted by ESPN. 

“On my second shot at that same hole earlier, I missed slightly to the right. In the playoff, I aimed directly at the target and executed a great shot.”

This victory marks his second title in the Tiger Woods-founded tournament, following his 2016 win.

Sepp Straka, who held a one-shot lead over Scheffler after 54 holes, finished third after carding a 68. Scheffler, chasing a third consecutive Albany win, settled for a 68 and fourth place alongside U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun who shot 65.

Scheffler's momentum shifted at the par-5 11th. With 291 yards to the green and mud on his ball, he chose driver from the fairway. The ball hooked left into bushes, requiring him to punch out to sand before overshooting into a back greenside bunker. A brilliant bunker shot saved him from double-bogey, but he still bogeyed. Another bogey at the next hole left his chances slim.

As Scheffler fell five shots behind, Matsuyama solidified his lead by draining a 30-foot birdie putt on the 13th. Scheffler closed his season with remarkable consistency, never finishing outside the top eight in his last 16 tournaments since March's Houston Open.

“Glad to compete here and gauge my progress,” Scheffler said. 

“Some things I've been working on lately are starting to show results, including significant offseason improvements in my primary focus areas.”

For Matsuyama, this win represents his 21st worldwide professional title. Keeping with tradition, he wore a yellow shirt for the final round despite starting three shots back. 

Though he failed to capitalize on two back-nine par-5s, his bogey-free round and playoff 9-iron heroics secured the trophy from Tiger Woods for the third time. Previously, he'd won Woods' 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera.

“Tiger told me I needed to shoot 10-under today,” Matsuyama said with a smile. 

“I didn't quite reach 10-under, but I'm thrilled to win this week.”