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There was plenty of punter sadness last year when the Worldwide Technology Championship had to leave the El Camaleon course at Mayakoba – the sort of track many of us love to punt on. The resort had switched allegiance to LIV Golf and the new venue was the first Tiger Woods design to be used on the PGA Tour. What was immediately apparent was the contrast between the two tests. El Camaleon was tight with small greens, El Cardonal at Diamante is wide open with huge putting surfaces. Legends create courses in their own image. Jack Nicklaus demands distance control into greens, Arnold Palmer gave aggressive drivers an advantage and Tiger Woods said of this layout: “I set up the golf strategy to make golfers think and make choices. There are going to be different ways to play every hole. Angles of approach are going to be very important and will dictate the type of shots you should consider. I love this kind of golf.” Big blows from the tee could provide big advantages by taking on dog legs, nasty bunkers and by catching down slopes. Cameron Young said: “The greens are very dramatic so you have to pick your spots and pick your landing areas really well.” Camillo Villegas added: “It is forgiving off the tee, which I think we all wish it was a little bit tighter, to be honest.” Taylor Montgomery, who has ties with the resort, said: “This course specifically is more desert golf, pretty big fairways and a lot of undulation around the greens. this course is very wind dependent.” While Sahith Theegala noted: “It's very hilly, no flat lies, a bunch of slopes that you can use to funnel into the greens.” It’s a par 72 set at around 7,450 yards with paspalum grass greens and fairways lined by arroyes (dry desert gullies), scrub, cacti and sandy dunes. The weather forecast currently suggests that the wind will not be a huge factor so more low scoring – Erik Van Rooyen won with 27-under last year – is likely.
Angles to consider 1/ Paspalum grass greens Last year’s winner Van Rooyen already had a win on paspalum grass greens as had Matt Kuchar (who shared second) Nate Lashley, Akshay Bhatia and Chesson Hadley (who were all top 10). Another three in the top 10 (Sam Ryder, Carson Young, Mackenzie Hughes) had top threes on paspalum. 2/ Experience in Mexico Van Rooyen had a top three in Mexico already, had been second after 36 holes in the country in his previous start and was eighth in the start after his win. Kuchar had a win and another two top threes in the country. 3/ Strokes Gained Approach In the lead into the event Van Rooyen had logged consistently fine SG Approach numbers, Kuchar’s were good, Villegas had poor form but had posted an excellent number in his previous start when missing a cut and Andrew Putnam (T5th) had also been recording good approach numbers. 4/ Going low Van Rooyen, Villegas and Kuchar – the top three – had all won in the past with totals of 263 or lower. They could keep the pedal down.
Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Harris English His approach work hasn’t been great recently but that didn’t stop him finishing sixth (in the Black Desert Championship) and ninth (in the Shriners Children’s Championship) in his last two starts. He won this event on paspalum at El Camaleon (shooting 263), added two top fives there, and has been fifth at Corales on it too. That’s a reminder that he likes playing by the ocean and isn’t scared of a sea breeze: he’s won at Plantation in Hawaii and has four top 10s at Waialae. Patton Kizzire Second in Mexico on the Korn Ferry Tour, he added a win in this event at El Camaleon, was later third at halfway and second after three rounds at that venue and he was T15 last year when four shots back of the 54 hole lead. He’s won with scores of 263 and 264, and his El Camaleon record backs up that he can putt on paspalum (he carded a 66 and 67 on it at Corales earlier this year). There was a little drop off in form after he won in California in September but his approach work was okay last time out and excellent during the win (as well as before and after). Nate Lashley A winner on paspalum at Corales in 2017 and he’s played well on it ever since with another fourth there, two top 10s at Grand Reserve, he’s been fifth at Emerald Bay in the Bahamas and he was T10th here last year when bookending his effort with a 64 and a 66. He’s finished top 30 in his last two starts and was third for Approach in the first of those in Vegas. He won the Rocket Mortgage Classic going low (263) and he has five top 10s including a win in Mexico on the top three tiers. Tips: 0-3; -6.00pts 1pt e.w. Harris English at 33/1 (SpreadEx, SportingIndex 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) 14th 1pt e.w. Patton Kizzire at 66/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) mc 1pt e.w. Nate Lashley at 60/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 55th
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