NASSAU, Bahamas — Hideki Matsuyama closed out his season in spectacular fashion on Sunday, firing an 8-under 64 and then sinking a brilliant 9-iron approach to two feet on the first playoff hole to defeat Alex Noren and capture the Hero World Challenge title.
The victory bookends a stellar year for Matsuyama, who opened 2025 by setting a PGA Tour record at Kapalua. At Albany Golf Club, he delivered one of the most memorable shots of the week — holing out from 116 yards for eagle on the 10th hole — a momentum surge that lifted him past Sepp Straka and briefly ahead of Scottie Scheffler.
Noren, who had battled a hamstring injury earlier in the year and didn’t start his season until May, produced his own fireworks on the back nine. He matched Matsuyama’s 64 and forced a playoff with an 18-foot birdie on the final hole to reach 22-under 266.
But the playoff was over almost as quickly as it began. Matsuyama, known for letting go of the club with one hand even when he hits it pure, twirled his 9-iron confidently this time as the ball tracked directly toward the flag and stopped mere feet from the hole. Noren’s 20-foot attempt to extend the playoff slid left.
“It was a perfect distance for me,” Matsuyama said. “I missed a little right earlier in regulation, but in the playoff I went right at it and hit a great shot.”
The win is Matsuyama’s second at Tiger Woods’ holiday invitational, having first claimed the Hero World Challenge title in 2016. It also marks his 21st victory worldwide.
Straka, the 54-hole leader entering Sunday, closed with a 68 to finish alone in third. Scheffler, attempting a third straight victory at Albany, stumbled early on the back nine with costly bogeys at holes 11 and 12 after finding trouble off the tee and in the bunkers. He shot 68 and tied for fourth with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun.
Despite the miscues, Scheffler remains one of the season’s most consistent performers, ending the year without finishing worse than eighth in his last 16 starts dating back to the Houston Open. “It’s nice to come down here and gauge where I’m at,” he said, noting he saw clear progress from recent swing adjustments.
Matsuyama, wearing his traditional yellow for the final round, began the day three shots behind but delivered a bogey-free charge to the top. Though he couldn’t capitalize on the back-nine par 5s, his steady play and playoff brilliance earned him another trophy from Woods, adding to his 2024 Genesis Invitational win.
“Tiger told me to shoot 10 under today,” Matsuyama said with a smile. “I didn’t shoot 10 under, but I’m very happy to win this week.”