A new sponsor but a very familiar course.
This week’s World Wide Technology Championship takes place at El Camaleon, a venue where punters now have 14 years of course form.
It’s a short 7,017-yard par 71 with three par 5s and the average age of the winner is 34 so experience can count.
Playa de Carmen is a coastal resort where it can gust. That said, the last three winning scores were -20 (Viktor Hovland 2020), -20 (Brendon Todd 2019) and -22 (Matt Kuchar 2018).
It’s been as low as -13 (Mark Wilson 2009 and John Huh 2012) but with no strong winds expected, something around 20-under looks likely again.
Last year due to the Covid-affected calendar, the event took place in December. The previous seven were held in November after the event switched from a February/March slot in 2013.
Of the 14 editions, only two have been won by non-Americans. Graeme McDowell ended a run of eight straight US winners when taking the title in 2015 while Norwegian Hovland became the second European winner last year.
Angles to consider
1/ Greens In Regulation
Hovland ranked 1st for GIR when winning this event last year and that continued a strong trend. Todd was 3rd in that category during his win and every champion here since 2014 has been in the top 11 for greens hit.
2/ Par 4 Performance
After Hovland shot 9-under on the Par 4s last year (joint-best with third-placed Adam Long), five of the last seven winners have led/co-led the Par 4 Scoring charts. Hovland was only 2-under on the Par 5s so the Par 4s hold the key.
3/ Performance on similar tracks
Hovland’s only previous victory before he won last year had come in the Puerto Rico Open, another seaside track featuring Paspalum greens. Branden Grace won that event last year and the South African’s only other PGA Tour win had come at Harbour Town… another short coastal track. There are numerous other correlations between El Camaleon and other such courses by the sea.
Selections
The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected.
Shane Lowry
The 2019 Open champion is making his tournament debut but clearly loves a coastal test. As well as that memorable Royal Portrush win, he’s finished third and ninth in two of the last three editions of The RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. He also ranks 14th in the field for greens hit over the last eight weeks and is 19th in Par 4 Scoring this season.
Russell Henley
Henley ranks 1st in this field for GIR over the last eight weeks and is 9th in Par 4 Scoring this season. He’s yet to make a big impression here although has started with 66s in both 2018 and 2019. As for relevant form, he’s a former winner of the Sony Open and was 11th there this year. Henley also posted tied ninth at Harbour Town earlier in 2021.
Billy Horschel
Horschel was an excellent winner at Wentworth two starts ago and has finished tied fifth and tied eighth in his last two visits to this tournament. He’s ranked in the top eight for GIR in each of his last three events and last season was 18th for Par 4 Birdie or Better leaders so plays such holes extremely well. Horschel was tied seventh at the Sony back in January and also has two top 10s at Harbour Town.
Tips: 0-3; -6.00pts
1pt e.w. Shane Lowry at 35/1 (William Hill, Sky Bet, Paddy Power 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) mc
1pt e.w. Russell Henley at 40/1 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 33rd
