Mayakoba’s El Camaleon will host LIV Golf in 2024 with these changes to the clubhouse and course

The course is famous for its picturesque setting along the Riviera Maya.

El Camaleon was the home to the first PGA Tour event in Latin America, and in 2024, LIV Golf will host its event at the Greg Norman-designed course for a second time. 

The course is undergoing a renovation in preparation for the February 2024 event. The clubhouse, restaurants and a few of the holes have seen some major changes. El Camaleon opened in 2006, and these renovations are the first of its kind to improve the overall experience for the spectators, players and guests of the Mayakoba resort.

The clubhouse renovated the entry, locker rooms, pro shop and gathering place. The Koba Club House restaurant has taken on a brand new menu to accompany the new design.

The course, famous for its picturesque setting along the Riviera Maya, enlisted architects to make strategic changes to many of the holes. Some have enlarged tee boxes and there is changed elevation to fairways, greens and bunkers. The fourth hole, in particular, is getting a new island green, and No. 8 is getting new changes to the size and slope of its green.

Hole 15 of Maykoba's El Camaleon
Hole 15 of Maykoba’s El Camaleon. (Mayakoba)

These improvements come while maintaining the unique charm of El Camaleon. The redesign aims to strike a balance between preserving the course’s natural beauty and introducing new elements to push professional competition and amateurs in 2024.

Golfweek’s Averee Dovsek stopped by and took a closer look at the renovations.

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There are four resorts that make up Mayakoba: Andaz, Banyan Tree, Fairmont and Rosewood. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with traditional juices, small gifts and accompanied by an inviting staff. The check-in experience is peaceful and no detail gets left behind. 

Between beautifully designed villas and the ambiance of each resort, the 595-acre property is a dream. The transportation system makes it convenient to get to the beaches, rivers, restaurants, shops, cooking classes, golf course, kayaking adventures and more. You can travel around the resort by bike, boats or golf carts.

Each restaurant at the property has a unique concept and taste, serving fresh seafood to Thai food with a tasteful design. The dining experience can accommodate dietary restrictions and flavor preferences.

Mayakoba is immersed in the Mayan ecosystem, surrounded by the river, trees, birds and even spider monkeys, which will gladly greet you at the sight of an apple at your doorstep.

Get to know the four international courses hosting the LIV Golf League in 2023

Greg Norman’s Saudi Arabia-backed league will return to competition in Feb. 2023.

After hosting eight events in its inaugural season in 2022, the LIV Golf Invitational Series has re-branded to the LIV Golf League for 2023 and its schedule is starting to take shape.

On Monday, Golfweek confirmed El Camaleon Golf Club in Riviera Maya, Mexico, which has regularly held the PGA Tour’s World Wide Technologies Championship at Mayakoba, would host LIV’s first event of its new season, Feb. 24-26. The Saudi Arabia-backed circuit officially announced the Mexico event Wednesday, as well as two additional international stops in Singapore and Spain after previously announcing an event in Australia.

LIV has revealed four of its 14 events for 2023 and could potentially host as many as six of those events internationally if it returns to one or both of the Centurion Club in England or Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia, which staged events in LIV’s inaugural season in 2022.

Get to know a little more about the international courses on the LIV Golf League schedule for 2023.

How much money the top PGA Tour golfers won at the Mayakoba Golf Classic

Check out how much money the top players won this week in Mexico.

Check out how much money the top players won this week in Mexico.

Viktor Hovland wins Mayakoba Golf Classic with birdie on final hole

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak recaps Viktor Hovland’s win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic from El Camaleon Golf Club.

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak recaps Viktor Hovland’s win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic from El Camaleon Golf Club.

Mayakoba Golf Classic preview

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak previews the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Golf Club.

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak previews the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Golf Club.

Andy Ogletree, low amateur at the 2020 Masters, will make his professional debut at the Mayakoba Gol

Days after turning professional, Andy Ogletree has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Days after turning professional, Andy Ogletree has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Mayakoba Golf Classic: Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Previewing the 2019-20 Mayakoba Golf Classic and looking at the best fantasy golf selections for El Camaleon Golf Club.

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 FinauJustin ThomasTiger 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

Photo Credit: Mark Konezny – USA TODAY Sports

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

Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports

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

Photo Credit: Eric Bolte – USA TODAY Sports

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

Photo Credit: Steve Flynn – USA TODAY Sports

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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Mayakoba Golf Classic odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

Analyzing the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic and which golfers are the best options for the event. Who will win at El Camaleon GC? We break it down within.

The PGA Tour returns to North America this week for the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The course measures 6,987 yards and plays as a par 71 under tournament conditions.

Courtesy of historical data from Fantasy National, the stats best associated with success at this venue are:

  • Strokes Gained: Approach
  • Strokes Gained: Ball Striking
  • Opportunities Gained
  • Greens in Regulation Gained

My model looks at the most recent 36 rounds for each golfer in the field.

Mayakoba Golf Classic – Tier 1

Photo Credit: Rob Kinnan – USA TODAY Sports

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Viktor Hovland +2000

Hovland, 22, is tied with Jason DayMatt Kuchar and Tony Finau as the tournament favorite, according to the sportsbooks. He is ranked 97th by the Official World Golf Ranking and is still looking for his first career win after turning pro in the summer. Hovland leads the field in each of the four key stats.

Emiliano Grillo +3300

Grillo is a course horse. He finished 15th last year, T-9 in 2017 and T-10 in 2016. He’s coming off a T-30 in a much stronger field at the Zozo Championship in Japan, and he placed T-26 at The CJ Cup the week before. He ranks second to Hovland in most key stats and shares the lead in SG: Approach.

Mayakoba Golf Classic – Tier 2

Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports

Chez Reavie +5000

Reavie participated in all three events the PGA Tour just played in Asia. His best result was a T-46 at The CJ Cup in South Korea. The 33rd-ranked golfer by the OWGR ranks sixth by the stat model and is in the top five of the field in SG: Ball Striking, SG: Approach and Opportunities Gained.


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Kyle Stanley +8000

Stanley plummeted down the OWGR last season while missing the cut in 10 of 25 events and picking up just one top-10 finish with a T-8 at the Wells Fargo Championship. He was ranked as high as 26th at the conclusion of the 2018 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Mayakoba Golf Classic – Longshots

Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports

Charley Hoffman +10000

Hoffman was the 2014 champion at El Camaleon. This number is too great for a winner from just five years ago as a $10 bet returns a $1,000 profit. He hasn’t made the cut in his last four appearances at this event, but he finished T-36 at The CJ Cup and certainly has experience on the course, even with the poor recent results.

Keith Mitchell +12500

Mitchell ranks just 73rd by the stat model, but he’s an excellent value as he has typically been priced much lower than this in more competitive fields. He made the cut here in each of his last two tries.

2019-20 winners: Joaquin Niemann – A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier (+2800)

Get some action on this tournament by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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