Hero World Challenge: Viktor Hovland’s eagle, Sepp Straka’s whirlwind week replacing Tiger, newlywed Collin Morikawa and Tom Kim ‘officially meets’ Tiger

The four-way tie for the lead in The Bahamas is the most after any round in tournament history.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Hero World Challenge defending champion Viktor Hovland picked up where he left off, shooting 3-under 69 on Thursday at Albany Golf Club to share the opening-round lead with a trio of players. The four-way tie for the lead is the most after any round in tournament history.

On a warm, windswept day, Hovland continued his magic at the drivable par-4 14th, registering his fourth eagle of the hole in five attempts – and noted the one time he didn’t make eagle was a bogey.

“That green obviously is not the biggest green, but with how soft it is, if you land it on the green, you can keep it on the green whereas if it was really firm, you kind of have to land it up in the slope and stuff,” said Hovland, who nearly aced the hole.

Hovland had never held the 18-hole lead or co-lead in an official stroke-play event on the PGA Tour. The Norway native clearly enjoys playing golf in warm weather, having won the Puerto Rico Open, the Dubai Desert Classic and the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba twice in addition to his Bahamian conquest.

When asked on Wednesday for his reaction to Mayakoba’s El Camaleon Course deciding to host a LIV Golf tournament in February, Hovland didn’t see why it couldn’t continue to host a PGA Tour event too.

“If not, then I’ll try to find other places that I can win on,” he said.

No better place than in the Bahamas.