El Cardonal at Diamante – Page 2

Here’s what pros have to say about Tiger Woods’ first course to host a PGA Tour event

The wind is the course’s main defense. Tiger emphasized shot-making and strategic decision-making.

LOS CABOS, Mexico — Tiger Woods doesn’t do many firsts these days in professional golf but he has this week as this marks the first time that a PGA Tour event will be held on one of Woods’ designs (with senior design associate Beau Welling).

With dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and natural arroyos, mature vegetation and native dunes, El Cardonal at Diamante, which ranks T-33 on Golfweek’s Best Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic Islands and Central America list and hosts this week’s World Wide Technology Championship, is a par-72 course measuring 7,363 yards and will rank as one of the tougher walks on Tour.

The wind is the course’s main defense. Tiger emphasized shot-making and strategic decision-making. The course’s variety of hole angles, including the par-5 14^th, which offers the rare alternate fairway, challenging green complexes and diverse shot values provide a testing ground that requires players to think critically about their approach. It’s a course that invites players to showcase their versatility and creativity, in line with Tiger’s approach to the game and what made him one of the best to ever peg it up.

“I set up the golf strategy to make golfers think and make choices,” Woods said on the course website. “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.”

The course boasts a magnificent panorama of dunes, fairways, and ocean views that blend with the surrounding natural vegetation. Here’s what the pros have to say about Tiger’s first completed design and first course to host the PGA Tour.

Thoughts on TW design course El Cardonal at Diamanté:

-I’m not a massive course design junkie like Zac Blair and others so this is a pretty basic breakdown lol.
-I always find it funny that famous players that became course designers end up designing courses that fit their… pic.twitter.com/GKpm09c5Pa

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) November 1, 2023

Wide fairways, lots of birdies lead 5 things from opening round at World Wide Technology Championship

The Aussie may want to put the senior circuit on hold for a bit after the way he played on Thursday.

LOS CABOS, Mexico – Cameron Percy is 49 and already sent in his application for PGA Tour Champions Q-School in December. But the Aussie, who is still seeking his first PGA Tour win, may want to put the senior circuit on hold for a bit after the way he played on Thursday in the first round of the World Wide Technology Championship.

Percy carded eight birdies and an eagle to shoot 10-under 62 at El Cardonal at Diamante and match his career low in 632 career rounds spanning the last 20 years. When play was suspended due to darkness with 10 players still on the course, Percy held a two-stroke lead over four other golfers.

“I’m 152 I think on the FedEx Cup, so finishing Top 150 at my age would be fantastic,” he said. “I want to at least do that, but if I can keep the ball rolling like I did today, I should be able to finish a lot higher than that, and then lead into Q-School with the Champions Tour. Yeah, I’m looking forward to that.”

Percy birdied three of his first five holes and then spun back a pitch shot from 70 yards for eagle at the par-5 sixth.

“For about an hour and a half it didn’t matter where I hit it, it went in,” Percy said.

He had it to 9-under through 13 but made a three-putt par at 14.

“I couldn’t make ‘em all,” said Percy, who matched the score he shot in Las Vegas in 2010.

He drained a 15-foot birdie at the last to cap off an impressive showing and already was licking his chops to tee off again in less than 12 hours as the first off at 6:25 a.m. local time on Friday.

“I’m going to get the good greens and I need to take advantage of it,” he said.

Percy’s happy day leads off our things to know from the opening round:

2023 World Wide Technology Championship Friday tee times, how to watch

Everything you need to know for the second round of the World Wide Technology Championship.

Cameron Young is making his first start of the FedEx Cup Fall – he last appeared at the BMW Championship, the second of three FedEx Cup Playoff events in August – but his game showed no rust as he hit all 14 fairways and all 18 greens.

But while Young finished the opening round of the World Wide Technology Championship with a 65, he’s three shots off the pace set by Cameron Percy in the opening round at El Cardonal Golf Course at Diamante. The course is the first designed by Tiger Woods to host a PGA Tour event.

El Cardonal ranks 26th on the Golfweek’s Best 2023: Top 50 courses in Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands and Central America list. It’s one of 11 courses in Cabo on that list. It’s also the first golf course designed by Woods, opening in 2014.

WWT Championship: Tiger Woods merch photos | Odds, picks to win

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante. All times listed are ET.

Friday tee times

1st tee

Tee time	Players
9:25 a.m.	Henrik Norlander, David Thompson, Matthias Schwab
9:36 a.m.	Brian Stuard, Peter Malnati, Carson Young
9:47 a.m.	Nick Watney, Mark Hubbard, Doug Ghim
9:58 a.m.	Ryan Brehm, Robert Streb, Lanto Griffin
10:09 a.m.	Chez Reavie, Richy Werenski, Andrew Landry
10:20 a.m.	C.T. Pan, Russell Knox, Vince Whaley
10:31 a.m.	Troy Merritt, Zac Blair, Hayden Buckley
10:42 a.m.	Sam Ryder, Taylor Pendrith, Kramer Hickok
10:53 a.m.	Carl Yuan, Trevor Cone, Brent Grant
11:04 a.m.	Ludvig Aberg, Ryo Ishikawa, Chris Gotterup
11:15 a.m.	Jeffrey Kang, Hunter Epson, Billy Davis
2:10 p.m.	Chesson Hadley, Jonathan Byrd, Max McGreevy
2:21 p.m.	Patton Kizzire, Harry Hall, Tyson Alexander
2:32 p.m.	Stephan Jaeger, Harry Higgs, Justin Suh
2:43 p.m.	Luke List, Sahith Theegala, Chris Kirk
2:54 p.m.	Davis Riley, Erik van Rooyen, Cameron Young
3:05 p.m.	K.H. Lee, Lucas Herbert, Keith Mitchell
3:16 p.m.	Beau Hossler, Maverick McNealy, Ben Griffin
3:27 p.m.	Jimmy Walker, Camillo Villegas, Austin Eckroat
3:38 p.m.	Ryan Moore, James Hahn, Callum Tarren
3:49 p.m.	Trevor Werbylo, Peter Kuest, Michael Block
4 p.m.	Kelsei Hiratam Isaiah Salinda, Jose Cristobal Islas

10th tee

Tee time	Player
9:25 a.m.	Andrew Putnam, Austin Cook, Cameron Percy
9:36 a.m.	Nate Lashley, Ben Martin, Ben Taylor
9:47 a.m.	Thomas Detry, Greyson Sigg, Marty Dou
9:58 a.m.	Mackenzie Hughes, J.J. Spaun, Taylor Mongtomery
10:09 a.m.	Lucas Glover, Akshay Bhatia, Emiliano Grillo
10:20 a.m.	Nick Hardy, Cameron Champ, Tyler Duncan
10:31 a.m.	Adam Long, Charley Hoffman, Kelly Kraft
10:42 a.m.	David Lingmerth, Robby Shelton, Justin Lower
10:53 a.m.	Michael Gligic, Tano Goya, Kyle Westmoreland
11:04 a.m.	Scott Harrington, Augusto Nunez, Chase Johnson
11:15 a.m.	Ryan Gerard, Roberto Diaz, Peter Knade
2:10 p.m.	Ryan Palmer, Cody Gribble, Kevin Yu
2:21 p.m.	David Lipsky, Austin Smotherman, Harrison Endycott
2:32 p.m.	Dylan Frittelli, MJ Daffue, Paul Haley II
2:43 p.m.	Chad Ramey, Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar
2:54 p.m.	Nico Echavarria, Brian Gay, Jim Herman
3:05 p.m.	Adam Svensson, Martin Laird, Brandt Snedeker
3:16 p.m.	Michael Kim, Scott Piercy, Doc Redman
3:27 p.m.	Ryan Armour, Brandon Wu, Will Gorson
3:38 p.m.	Kevin Tway, Brice Garnett, Jason Dufner
3:49 p.m.	Matti Schmid, Kevin Roy, Chris Naegel
4 p.m.	Sebastian Vazques, Isidro Benitez, Preston Summerhays

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. There is no PGA Tour Live coverage of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship.

Friday, Nov. 3

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Sirius XM: 2-7:30 p.m

Saturday, Nov. 4

Golf Channel/Peacock: 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Sirius XM: 2-7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 5

Golf Channel/Peacock: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m.

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Photos: Check out the merchandise at the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship

Here’s a look at some of the items that fans will be rocking in their wardrobe and souvenir keepsakes for sale at the inaugural PGA Tour event in Cabo.

LOS CABOS, Mexico — The PGA Tour’s first visit to the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula coincidentally coincides with the Day of the Dead, the celebration of the transitory return of the souls of the departed, believed to be returning home to spend time with their families, which is greeted with parades, altars and events of all kinds in Mexico. Add to that list arguably my favorite Tour tournament T-shirt of the year (see below). Sadly, though, there’s already been such a run on this short that all that remained were some size extra small and the merchandise manager shared this information with a rueful expression.

The World Wide Technology Championship merchandise is being sold in the pro shop at Diamante this week, which is typically stocked with Nike gear — Tiger designed the El Cardonal layout, so that makes sense. But this week there’s a nice mix with brands such as Levelwear, Bad Birdie and FootJoy also being part of the mix. It’s a bit light on options, in part because they built a temporary wall and carved out space for the player locker room, but it’s less is more philosophy works —as long as it doesn’t run out on Wednesday of the gear everyone is clamoring for. Here’s a look at some of the other items that fans will be rocking in their wardrobe and souvenir keepsakes of the inaugural Tour event in Cabo.

Pilot? Engaged? Maverick McNealy kept busy during long layoff and is ready to go at WWT Championship

Surgery for his injured left shoulder “would have been like hanging a wall picture frame with a sledgehammer.”

LOS CABOS, Mexico – For Maverick McNealy, absence made the heart grow fonder.

The 27-year-old Stanford grad is making his return to the PGA Tour on Thursday at the World Wide Technology Championship after being sidelined for nearly five months with a left shoulder injury.

“I know it’s a cliché,” he said. “I have the coolest job in the world and I realized that when I wasn’t able to play here. It’s really easy to lose sight of that when you get wrapped up in the FedEx Cup and the world rankings and all this other stuff.”

McNealy tore the anterior sterno-clavicular ligament in his left shoulder during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am in February. During the second round, while playing the seventh hole at Monterey Peninsula Club’s Shore Course, he remembers a long wait in cold weather and then making a “funny swing,” in which his angle of attack got too steep, leading to being stuck underneath and having to shallow late to get his shoulder back in position.

“Doing that repeatedly while slamming a metal rod in the ground wasn’t really good for my body,” he said.

He ranked 26^th in the FedEx Cup standings when he injured himself. He tried rest and to play on for a few months before shutting it down in June after missing the cut at the RBC Canadian Open. Surgery wasn’t necessary.

“The doctors said that would have been like hanging a wall picture frame with a sledgehammer,” he said.

Maverick McNealy plays an approach shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. (Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

The recovery process consisted of physical therapy and regenerative stem-cell treatment, which accelerated the healing process. Three days after the treatment, he had a golf club in his hand, beginning with a pitch count of 15 balls swinging from hip to hip and slowly worked back up to a full volume of practice and play about a month ago.

McNealy also made changes to his swing mechanics to make sure he doesn’t put as much stress on the joint in his shoulder. McNealy worked on trying to be “less steep to shallow” with his golf swing and staying behind the ball. With his instructor Butch Harmon no longer traveling to Tour events, McNealy sought a second set of eyes when he’s on the road and began working with instructor Scott Hamilton at the Valspar Championship.

“It’s more of a complementary relationship than a replacement,” he said.

McNealy took a break from Harmon during last year’s off-season and tried to recapture some old swing thoughts. That’s when his swing went off-kilter and led to the injury.

During his downtime, McNealy earned his pilot’s license and his instrument rating so he can fly in adverse conditions. He said he flies in a Cirrus SR20 and plans to pilot it to some West Coast events next season. He also got engaged, flying girlfriend Maya Daniels to Lake Tahoe earlier this summer, where he proposed.

McNealy, who previously dated LPGA star Danielle Kang, met Daniels three years ago at his workout and physical therapy center. They started dating about 11 months ago and it hasn’t hurt that she helped him with his rehab.

Taking flight with Maverick McNealy ✈️

A man of many talents shares his passion to improve on and off the course.https://t.co/QqYuLTYRFo

(Presented by @UnderArmour)

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2023

“When your fiancee works in the physical therapy world it’s always a plus when you’re a professional athlete,” he said.

McNealy was ready to return to the Tour a couple of weeks ago at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas, where he lives and practices regularly, but that event was the cut-off point between a major and minor medical extension. (By waiting until this week, McNealy should have 11 events to keep his card.)

“I’m 121st in the FedEx Cup right now. I don’t know if my number’s good enough to hold up and I don’t want to leave it up to chance to maybe not be able to get all the events to start 2024,” he explained.

So, McNealy is ready to get back to work at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante south of the border.

“Love the food. I joke that I eat Chipotle half the time when I’m on the road,” McNealy said, “so this is just a more authentic version.”

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Photos: 2023 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal in Mexico

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship.

El Cardonal at Diamante hosted the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, for the first time.

It’s the first golf course designed by Tiger Woods, opening in 2014.

El Cardonal ranks 26th on the Golfweek’s Best 2023: Top 50 courses in Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands and Central America list. It’s one of 11 courses in Cabo on the list.

WWT Championship: Tiger Woods merch photos

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship, which was won by Erik van Rooyen after a birdie-birdie-eagle finish Sunday, his second PGA Tour win.

No one will be surprised if Ludvig Aberg earns first PGA Tour win this week on Tiger Woods’ first course

Is it any wonder that Aberg is considered the favorite in Los Cabos, Mexico?

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — If Swedish golfer Ludvig Aberg were a stock, longtime NBC Sports golf commentator Roger Maltbie said he’d be buying as many shares as he could get his hands on.

“The power he’s got, seems like he’s got a lot of wedge game, too, and putting, he seems to have pretty much all the pieces,” Maltbie said. “So right now, I’d say he’s got the biggest upside.”

A little more than four months ago, Aberg, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Halloween, completed a decorated amateur career at Texas Tech. The top-ranked amateur in the world swept college golf’s three player-of-the-year awards and became the first player to earn Tour membership through PGA Tour University, which will carry through the 2024 season.

In just his fourth start as a PGA Tour pro, Aberg earned a top-10 finish. Two months later, he notched his first pro win, making four birdies in his final five holes to shoot 64 and claim the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

“Playing well over the back nine gave me a belief that I can do it and I can do it on this stage,” he said after his victory.

Indeed, he can. European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald named him one of his wild card picks for Rome, becoming the first player ever to play in a Ryder Cup before ever teeing it up in a major championship. Aberg played ably, including teaming with FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland to trounce world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, 9 and 7 in a foursomes (alternate-shot) match.

“I just tried to put the ball on the green and my work was done,” said Hovland of his foursomes partner’s prowess with the short stick that day.

In his next start, Aberg rallied on Sunday to force a playoff at the Sanderson Farms Championship and went low again in Las Vegas, closing with 62 to finish T-13. Is it any wonder that he’s considered the favorite this week at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico?

“He’s just getting on his road. He’s just starting to write his history,” Donald said. “I think he’s a generational talent.”

Count four-time major winner Rory McIlroy as another admirer.

Will Ludvig Åberg secure his first TOUR win? 👀

He is the favorite this week @WWTChampionship.

(Presented by @FDSportsbook) pic.twitter.com/Zfkt6JTvAc

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2023

“Everyone talks about what a great driver of the golf ball he is,” McIlroy said of Aberg during the Ryder Cup. “But I was really impressed with his wedge play and how he can sort of control his trajectory with shorter clubs. I was on the bandwagon before. Certainly at the front of it now.”

While much of the field is trying to lock up playing privileges for the 2024 season, Aberg is joined in the field by world No. 17 Cameron Young, who is making his first start of the FedEx Cup Fall, as well as Sahith Theegala, who won for the first time at the Fortinet Championship in September, and Lucas Glover, who won twice in August.

The tournament has shifted from one sun-drenched resort destination – it previously was held near Cancun at Mayakoba Resort – to another and will be contested at El Cardonal at Diamante, the first time a golf course designed by Tiger Woods is hosting a PGA Tour event. On Tuesday, Woods paid a visit to the first course he designed, which opened in 2014.

He might want to check out the uber-talented Aberg, who has rocketed to No. 58 in the world and with another good result this week he could surge into the top 50 and potentially earn a berth in the Masters. The quickest path to a trip down Magnolia Lane in April? A win this week south of the border.

Given his meteoric rise since turning pro, no one would be surprised if he made his maiden victory on the Tour his latest conquest.

Stat

60. That’s how many PGA Tour winners are in the field. Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker lead the way with nine victories to their credit, while Sahith Theegala is the last player in the field to notch his first win at the Fortinet Championship.

Keep an eye on…

Maverick McNealy. He is making his first start since the RBC Canadian Open in June. He missed nearly five months while dealing with a left shoulder injury.

Cameron Young. He is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 17 in the world and is making his first start on the PGA Tour since the BMW Championship in August. Young is seeking his first Tour title.

(Editor’s note: The story was corrected to show that Aberg attended Texas Tech University.)

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Tiger Woods arrives in Cabo where PGA Tour will play on the first golf course he designed

On Tuesday, Woods was seen cruising around the venue in a golf cart.

Nearly nine years ago, Tiger Woods hit a ceremonial first tee shot to officially open El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was the first golf course he designed and now, it’s hosting the PGA Tour for the firs ttime.

The World Wide Technology is this week, the first in a five-deal deal to be played at Diamante. The WWT was previously staged at El Camaleon Golf Club near Cancun, Mexico but after 16 years with the PGA Tour, the course jumped ship for LIV Golf.

Woods and El Cardonal stepped in to take over and on Thursday, a field of 132 golfers will tackle the 7,452-yard, par-72 layout for the first time.

On Tuesday, Woods was seen cruising around the venue in a golf cart.

Tiger spotting in Mexico 👀

The El Cardonal course designer was out scouting the course.@TigerWoods | @WWTChampionship pic.twitter.com/HYkClNjFTv

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2023

Woods built a fun short course at Diamante called The Oasis. He’s currently building a third layout there called The Legacy, and the expectation is that the Tour stop will shift to that course which is set to rival Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.

El Cardonal is named after the large desert tree, the cardon, that dots the landscape on the Baja California peninsula.

WWT Championship: Tiger Woods merch photos | Odds, picks to win

Justin Lower was among the Tour pros trying to work their way through a practice round at El Cardonal on Tuesday and apparently the Big Cat made him nervous.

Just bladed a chip shot in front of @TigerWoods so that’s how my days going

— Justin Lower (@justinlower_1) October 31, 2023

The WWT starts Thursday. It’s the third-to-last event on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series.

Woods post a message on X on Wednesday, wishing all the players good luck on his course.

I am so proud of El Cardonal @DiamanteCabo, @tgrdesignbytw’s first course to be home to a @PGATOUR event. Good luck to all the players this week! I hope you have as much fun on this course as I did designing it. pic.twitter.com/DArURj46BH

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 1, 2023

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2023 World Wide Technology Championship Thursday tee times, how to watch

Everything you need to know for the World Wide Technology Championship.

After a week off, the PGA Tour is back for the first of its final three events of the FedEx Cup Fall. And this week, the Tour heads to a new venue with a familiar name plastered everywhere.

The World Wide Technology Championship is back in Mexico, but this time in Los Cabos at El Cardonal at Diamante, the first course designed by Tiger Woods. The 7,452-yard, par-72 layout will test a field that includes, Cameron Young, Sahith Theegala, Ludvig Aberg and more.

WWT Championship: Tiger Woods merch photos | Odds, picks to win

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the first round of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante. All times listed are ET.