World Wide Technology Championship Preview and Picks

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🌊 The Buzz: Cancun Awaits

After a break, the PGA Tour swings into Mexico, taking on the oceanfront El Cardonal at Diamante. This course, designed by Tiger Woods, has wide fairways but is fiercely defended by strong winds and strategic bunkering. Last year’s gusts reached 30 mph, proving just how tricky it can get here. If conditions are calm, expect pros to score low. For many players, these final three events are make-or-break for their year-end rankings and Tour privileges, adding even more pressure to the week.

📈 The High Stakes: Climbing the Ranks

After this week, there are only two more fall golf events: the Bermuda Championship and the RSM Classic. About twelve players in this week's tournament are trying to end the year in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Being in the top 50 allows them to play in the best PGA Tour events and get invitations to major tournaments.

For players like Lucas Glover, ranked 47th in the Official World Golf Rankings, staying in the top 50 is essential to secure entry into major events and top Tour stops next year. Those close to the edge, such as Austin Eckroat (59th), Tom Hoge (65th), and Harris English (67th), will be vying to leap into this elite bracket. Meanwhile, others on the brink of losing their tour cards, like Matt Wallace at 125th, face crucial moments as the fall season concludes.

🌬️ Course Insights: El Cardonal at Diamante

Location: Los Cabos, Mexico
Yardage: 7,452 | Par: 72

El Cardonal, with its vast 60-yard fairways, invites aggressive tee shots but demands precision. Missteps can mean lost balls as the rough is unforgiving. The course boasts six par-4s over 450 yards, three lengthy par-5s over 550 yards, and bunkers that, while numerous, don’t pose a major challenge for pros. There’s just one water hazard to worry about on the par-4 third hole, adding a bit of intrigue without significantly threatening play. Ocean breezes will be the course’s toughest natural defense this week.

🎯 Key Stats for Success

This event has been held since 2007, and even though a lot of younger players are participating, older, more experienced players have done well.  One historical oddity is that 12 of the 16 past winners were over 30, with all the winners averaging just a notch below 35.  But things changed in 2021 when 23-year-old Viktor Hovland won, only the third player in his 20s to win this championship.  He also won in 2022 at age 24, but this event still favors older players, like last year’s winner Erik Van Rooyen, who was 33 when he won. Four of the 16 champions are older than 40 years.  Age also means experience, and despite Hovland’s young age, he has a lot of experience.  So old may be something to look for this week.

To excel, players will need a solid combination of proximity on approach and short putting skills. The wide fairways make distance an advantage, giving players wedge shots around 125 yards into the greens. This week’s leaders in that range include Tom Hoge, Joel Dahmen, and Justin Lower, while top putters inside ten feet, like Taylor Montgomery and Cameron Champ, are well-positioned for success.

🔍 Historical Trends: Experience Counts

Though younger players have begun making an impact, this tournament has a history of favoring older, seasoned players. The average age of past winners is just under 35, with notable exceptions like Viktor Hovland, who won twice in his early 20s. With strong showings from veterans, it’s likely that players with experience will have an edge.

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🔥 Players to Watch

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