The PGA Tour heads to Playa del Carmen, Mexico and the El Camaleon Golf Club for the OHL Classic at Mayakoba this week. This tournament was originally held in February opposite to a World Golf Championships Match Play event but it has had a much different feel since moving to this time frame. With FedEx Cup points on the line as well as an automatic place in the U.S. Masters and an increased prize money total there will be a lot on the line once again in Mexico this weekend.
Event
Event Details: OHL Classic at Mayakoba
Category: PGA
Date: November 10-13
Location: El Camaleon Golf Club, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
This tournament has certainly had its fair share of drama over the years with three of the last five winners triumphing in playoffs. That includes last year’s winner Graeme McDowell, who will look to successfully defend his 2015 title after winning here in a playoff a year ago.
Past Five Winners
2015: Graeme McDowell -18 (Playoff)
2014: Charley Hoffman -17
2013: Harris English -21
2012: John Huh -13 (Playoff)
2011: Johnson Wagner -17 (Playoff)
What To Know About The Course
The first four home last year ranked outside of the top-40 in Driving Distance so it’s fair to say that statistic won’t be a major determining factor this weekend. Accuracy off the tee hasn’t been essential to winning either as the first nine winners of this event have combined for an average ranking of 33.2 in that department. The most important thing will be consistency and the ability to sink putts. This tournament has the potential to be a birdie-fest with Putting and Greens In Regulation numbers the key to victory.
The Field
Absent from the field are the big boys, who have been on the sidelines so far to start the 2017 season. We won’t see Dustin Johnson in the field this week or Rory McIlroy. Also absent will be Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. That leaves it wide open for someone else to step up and come through. At the top of the board is Russell Knox, but there could be better value on the board.
The aforementioned McDowell will actually be available at fairly decent odds with some sportsbooks listing him at +3300 to win this event outright. It certainly won’t be easy to repeat but McDowell is on a short list of golfers that have already proven they can win this event before. Meanwhile, Russell Knox will enter this event as the sports betting favorite to win outright at +1400 odds. Jon Rahm, Emiliano Grillo, Jim Furyk and Keegan Bradley round out the top five picks on the board to win this event outright according to the sports betting odds.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Jim Furyk over Russell Knox
The fact that Knox is among the top ranked golfers in this week’s field isn’t enough to sway us from the fact that his current form and his course form at the El Cameleon Golf Club isn’t strong enough to justify his position as the sports betting favorite to win the OHL Classic outright. Instead, it makes Knox a good bet to fade with a capable golfer like Furyk. The veteran American will be making his first start since September and the extra time off should do him well as he looks to make a triumphant return with a strong performance this week.
Top-Five Pick: Harris English
English stands out as an intriguing pick to finish in the top-five this week. He is coming off an impressive top-five finish at the Shriners last week where he posted four consecutive rounds of 67 and he certainly has the pedigree to take care of business at this course. English won the OHL Classic back in 2013 when he posted a tournament-record 21-under score. The fact that he is still available at decent odds makes English the best bet on the board to take as a top-five pick this week.
Top 10 Odds To Win The OHL Classic
Russell Knox +1215
Jon Rahm +1650
Emiliano Grillo +1850
Jim Furyk +2250
Keegan Bradley +2550
Chris Kirk +2550
Scott Piercy +2550
Tony Finau +2850
Anirban Lihiri +2850
Billy Horsel +3250
