Hideki Matsuyama’s first and last memories of 2025 were spent in the winner’s circle. The Japanese superstar claimed the Hero World Challenge in a playoff over Alex Noren on Sunday for his second victory of the year. Matsuyama stuck his approach to 3 feet in the opening playoff hole and sank the birdie after Noren missed his own attempt to seal it. Matsuyama shot a bogey-free, final-round 64 to overtake 54-hole leader Sepp Straka and outpace world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who began the day just one shot off the lead.

It was an incredible bookend to a year that was otherwise filled with more lows than highs. Matsuyama opened 2025 by winning The Sentry in astonishing fashion, smashing through the PGA TOUR scoring record in the process, yet that win proved to be Matsuyama’s lone bright spot. He did not notch another top-10 all season on the PGA TOUR. “I’ve been working on everything,” Matsuyama said earlier in the week. That work paid off Sunday at Albany GC. Matsuyama went out in 5-under 31, then holed out for eagle at the 10th to vault into the lead, which he never relinquished. The win will not count towards Matsuyama’s career PGA TOUR tally of 11 (the Hero is an unofficial PGA TOUR event), but it will serve as a massive boost of momentum as Matsuyama turns the page on an up-and-down 2025 and looks ahead to 2026.

Points and payouts: See what each player earned in The Bahamas

Just 20 men entered Albany GC under the supervision of Tiger Woods, and only Hideki Matsuyama emerged atop the star-studded affair, $1 million richer. It took extra holes for Matsuyama to cement his second Hero World Challenge crown as Alex Noren poised a spirited finish to send the tropical affair into overtime. Noren claimed $450,000 for his efforts, with 54-hole leader Sepp Straka taking $300,000 in solo third. See the full payouts from the Bahamas here.

Video of the week

After advancing through Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, Ohio State alum Maxwell Moldovan discusses a stressful afternoon where he made birdie on the 72nd hole and then waited for roughly 90 minutes to see if his score would be enough to advance to next week's Final Stage.

Mic check

“I know we've got two Hall of Famers in our group and on our team, but nobody's bigger than anybody else, and we all pull for each other and play for each other.” – Team Europe's Captain Darren Clarke on the success of his team at the Skechers World Champions Cup.