The 2019 Mayakoba Golf Classic tees off this Thursday and marks the PGA Tour’s return from a three-event swing through Asia. El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, remains host of the annual event which has been a staple of the fall portion of the Tour’s schedule. The Greg Norman-designed course measures 6,987 yards and plays as a par 71 under tournament conditions.
The 128-man field is fronted by defending champion Matt Kuchar and world No. 16 Tony Finau. Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who were all victorious in Asia, are all absent this week in wait of next month’s Hero World Challenge. Next week’s RSM Classic will be the final full-field event until the Sony Open, running Jan. 9-12, 2020.
Fantasy Golf Rankings: Top 30
Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2019-20 Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Golf Club.
30. Russell Henley
Strong approach game at a course requiring golfers to take tight angles and dodge bunkers.
29. J.T. Poston
Returns to North America off of two top-30 finishes at the WGC-HSBC Champions and Zozo Championship.
28. Keegan Bradley
The 47th-ranked golfer in the world placed T-13 in a strong field at the Zozo Championship, but he was previously in poor form in North America and missed the cut at the Houston Open.
27. Aaron Wise
Tied for 10th last year following a missed cut in 2018. Bounced back from missing the cut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with a third-place finish at the Bermuda Championship.
26. Dylan Frittelli
Is closing in on the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings with a T-22 result at the Zozo Championship. Has a strong approach game and hits greens in regulation others can’t.
25. Cameron Champ
Played in just two events since his win at the Safeway Open in September. Relies more heavily on his off-the-tee game than approaches.
24. Sebastian Munoz
Gained 1.56 strokes per round putting during his victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Hasn’t been able to recapture the success with the flat stick.
23. Russell Knox
Had three straight top 10s at this event before skipping last year’s tournament. Was the co-runner-up in 2015.
22. Graeme McDowell
The 2015 champion hasn’t finished better than T-24 since and missed the cut last year.
21. Charley Hoffman
The 2015 champ has missed four straight cuts since his victory. He can still create scoring opportunities but isn’t in consistent four-round form.
20. Jhonattan Vegas
One of the best in the field by Opportunities Gained. Finished T-10 in 2016 and made the cut in four of his last five tries.
19. Denny McCarthy
A spectacular putter who’s waiting to put it all together. The approach game is one of his greatest struggles as he’s often left saving par.
18. Rory Sabbatini
Finished T-33 at the Zozo Championship and T-31 at The CJ Cup. Enters the week 75th by the OWGR.
17. Danny Lee
Last year’s runner-up is coming off a T-10 at the Zozo and a solo runner-up at The CJ Cup against much stiffer competition.
16. Pat Perez
The 2016 champ rebounded from a T-34 finish in 2017 to tie for sixth last season. Was solo third at the Shriners but finished T-51 and T-31 in the first two events in Asia.
15. Harris English
Hasn’t played since a T-4 at the Houston Open. Ranks third in the field in Greens in Regulation Gained over everyone’s last 36 rounds.
14. Kyle Stanley
A great course fit who excels on the approach and can create scoring opportunities.
13. Scottie Scheffler
The recent Korn Ferry Tour grad is an expert ball striker. Finished T-28 at the Houston Open but rebounded with T-3 at Bermuda.
12. Billy Horschel
Played all three events in Asia with a top showing of T-6 at the Zozo. He has six top 10s and just two missed cuts in 25 events in 2019.
11. Charles Howell III
Well-experienced at this venue. Placed T-7 in 2016 and T-4 in 2017 before a missed cut last year.
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10. Lanto Griffin
The current FedExCup points leader and winner of the Houston Open didn’t compete in any of the Asian tournaments. Excels off the tee and on the greens, but can struggle with the approach.
9. Abraham Ancer
The best golfer on the PGA Tour hailing from Mexico has a top finish of T-9 in 2017.
8. Chez Reavie
Four straight made cuts in this event with a top showing of T-4 in 2016. An excellent ball striker who has a great approach game.
7. Kevin Kisner
Ranks 35th in the world after finishing T-9 in each of the final two events of last season’s FedExCup Playoffs. Not in great form after finishing outside the top 25 in the final two events in Asia.
6. Joaquin Niemann
Has slipped back to 55th in the world after peaking at 50th with his breakout win at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. Finished T-60 in this event last year.
5. Emiliano Grillo
His 15th-place finish here last year was his worst result in his last three appearances. Leads the field with 1.91 total strokes gained per round in this event since 2015.
4. Jason Day
The winner of MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins. Hasn’t finished higher than T-22 in a stroke-play event since the Travelers Championship.
3. Matt Kuchar
Last year’s champ. He had three other top 10s and two runner-ups last season but none since the RBC Canadian Open.
2. Tony Finau
The top-ranked golfer in the field by the OWGR. An expert ball striker with a great approach game and more than enough distance for this shorter venue.
1. Viktor Hovland
Leads the field in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, Strokes Gained: Approach and Opportunities Gained over everyone’s most recent 36 rounds. Had disappointing showings at The CJ Cup and Zozo Championship but was T-10 at The Greenbrier and T-11 at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship.
Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
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