Aaron Rai emerged victorious at the Hero Shot at Albany championship, which took place on December 3, 2024, marking the start of the 2024 Hero World Challenge.

The tournament featured a lineup of notable players, including Nick Dunlap, Akshay Bhatia, Robert MacIntyre, and Justin Thomas.

Tiger Woods hosted the event, providing commentary as the players showcased their skills.

Each round included a 'Hero Ball' worth double points, significantly raising the stakes for the competitors.

In the first round, players had six shots at the target, with points awarded based on their landing zones: 250 points for the outer ring, 500 for the inner circle, and 1,000 for the cup.

During the second round, both Bhatia and Day scored 3,000 points, leading to a playoff against Rai, who had scored 4,000 points.

The playoff order was determined by a game of rock-paper-scissors, with Day advancing after hitting closer than Bhatia.

Bhatia advanced in the playoff by landing his fourth shot on the bullseye, while Rai and Day had both scored 4,000 points in the first round.

In the final round, Rai defeated Jason Day by successfully landing two of three shots on a floating target located 87 yards away.

Throughout the tournament, Day expressed frustration with Woods' commentary, admitting that some of his shots were not executed well.