Sepp Straka left the Albany golf course on Saturday at the Hero World Challenge a happy man.
At the 54-hole mark of the tournament hosted annually by Tiger Woods, Straka held a one-shot lead, defeating a field that included world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. He also kept reservations on his sofa to watch the biggest football game of the year up to that point: the 2025 SEC Championship game between Straka’s Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“I mean, every other team we play, I think the Dawgs win it,” Straka said Saturday. “But one of the last nine I think we won against Alabama, so I don’t know. It’s going to be a close game, hopefully we can get it.”
Well, if Saturday afternoon was any indication, Straka will arrive Sunday morning even happier. That’s because his Georgia Bulldogs left an impressive victory in the SEC Championship game right after Straka’s run ended, capping a one-loss season and solidifying a top seed in the College Football Playoff.
Now, on Sunday morning, Straka has the chance to cap off a dream weekend with a win at the Hero World Challenge, where he’ll share a final pairing with Scottie Scheffler.
A $1 million winner’s check for a Hero win wouldn’t be Straka’s biggest payday of the 2025 season — his $3.6 million winner’s check in the Truist Championship in May covers those bases – but would be a holiday bonus to round out the playing season.
And speaking of money, the World Hero Challenge will once again award a $5 million purse in 2025; you can find full payment information, including the winner’s share, below.
Hero World Challenge bag, winner’s share
1. 1 million dollars
2. $450,000
3. $300,000
4. $250,000
5. $225,000
6. $220,000
7. $215,000
8. $210,000
9. $205,000
10. $200,000
11. $195,000
12. $190,000
13. $185,000
14. $180,000
15. $175,000
16. $170,000
17. $165,000
18. $160,000
19. $155,000
20. $150,000
