Aaron Rai wins 2024 Hero Shot at Albany
Aaron Rai earned the Hero Shot at Albany championship on Tuesday, December 3, to kick off the 2024 Hero World Challenge. Rai defeated Jason Day in the final round, walking off with the championship thanks to landing two of three shots on the platform floating between the ninth-hole and 18th-hole greens.
Rai defeated a star-studded field that also featured Hero Shot competitors Nick Dunlap, Akshay Bhatia, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Thomas and Day. The pressure mounted as the points added up and tournament host Tiger Woods watched on and commented as the players took aim at the target 87 yards away from the tee box situated behind the 18th green.
The first round of the Hero Shot featured each player taking six shots at the target, with balls landing in an outer ring worth 250 points, those coming to rest in the inner circle worth 500 and any ball splashing down in the two-foot-diameter cup worth 1,000 and an automatic advancement to the next round. The sixth ball in each round – the “Hero Ball” – was worth double points.
Bhatia kicked things off as he dunked his fourth shot of the first round on the bullseye to advance. Rai and Day set the pace with 4,000 first-round points each. Dunlap fell just short of advancing to the second round, falling just 500 points behind the advancing trio.
In the second round, Bhatia and Day each scored 3,000 points and were forced into a shot-for-shot playoff to face Rai (4,000 second-round points) in the final. After Bhatia hit the inner circle, Day knocked it closer to advance.
In the final round, Rai continued his hot streak, hitting two balls on the target after knowing Day had only landed one. The second ball earned Rai the title.
Proceeds from the 2024 Hero World Challenge benefit TGR Foundation, Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation.
Tournament rounds will be held December 5-8 at Albany, bringing the event back to The Bahamas for its ninth year. Live television coverage of the 2024 Hero World Challenge will be provided by GOLF Channel during all four rounds and by NBC during the third and final rounds.