Sepp Straka (-17) is the new leader of the Hero World Challenge, a PGA Tour tournament taking place in the Bahamas. The Austrian, who started this Saturday alongside Scottie Scheffler (-16) just one shot behind the leaders, completed a spectacular round with four birdies and two eagles, without any mistakes, to take the lead and capitalise at the last moment as the world’s Number One stumbled again.
Scheffler, who began the tournament with an iron hand, lost the top spot yesterday with a double bogey on the 16th at Albany. Today, while still leading, he made a bogey on the same hole and another on the 18th, opening a door through which the Austrian slipped. A round of 64 strokes for Sepp and 65 for Scottie turns the final round on Sunday into a sort of head-to-head, with a comfortable margin over their pursuers.
Golf is hard … even for Scottie Scheffler.
📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/Rzu8KkZzvO
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 6, 2025
“I hit the ball to the fairway and basically lost my stance… Explain that to me. It’s not my fault, just bad luck,” said Scheffler when questioned about that error on the 16th. An argument that turned into anger when he was asked again about his mistakes, ignoring his eight birdies and his eagle (with one more bogey): “Are you asking me about two drives I’ve hit in the last three days? Next question. It’s ridiculous.”
Of the five players who finished yesterday tied for first place, only Hideki Matsuyama (-14) has managed, with difficulty, to keep up with the high pace of both the Austrian and the American. Joining him is Alex Noren (-14), signing a scorecard of 67 strokes. Behind them are Wyndham Clark (-13), J.J. Spaun (-13), Justin Rose (-12), and Cameron Young (-12). Beyond that, there is a chasm of players with no chance of winning Tiger‘s tournament.
"That's one way to do it."@SeppStraka moves to T3 after this chip-in eagle.
📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/9oIeZVjY2e
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 6, 2025
Certainly, if Straka and Scheffler feed off each other like today, there is little or nothing their pursuers can do… “Scottie started very fast, it seemed like he wasn’t going to miss a putt, but this is golf and everything evens out. I tried to focus on my own game. If tomorrow I feel comfortable with the driver, it will be a good way to start the day,” said the Austrian, who will try to take advantage of his slight lead to spring a surprise against the Number One.
