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DraftKings PGA: Mayakoba Golf Classic Picks and Analysis

By Benjamin Main

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 12: Patton Kizzire of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on November 12, 2017 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 12: Patton Kizzire of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on November 12, 2017 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) /
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PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 12: Patton Kizzire of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on November 12, 2017 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) Mayakoba Golf Classic
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 12: Patton Kizzire of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on November 12, 2017 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) Mayakoba Golf Classic /

DraftKings PGA: Mayakoba Golf Classic Picks and Analysis

We are truly in the heart of the swing season, seemingly in a new country every week. We jumped from the South Korea swing to Las Vegas and the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Bryson DeChambeau held off defending champ Patrick Cantlay, for another impressive win. Now we move to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

El Camaleon Golf Club has hosted this event since 2007. The sub-7,000 yard par-71 is one of the shortest courses on the PGA schedule. The course, situated on the Mexican coast just south of Cancun, can play difficult if the winds pick up. But typically this event plays as one of the easiest courses on the PGA schedule. Since 2014, the average winning score is 19-under. Patton Kizzire fended off Rickie Fowler for his first career PGA Tour victory.

In order to master El Camaleon, golfers will have to be accurate off the tee. The fairways are average in terms of width, but they are lined with native fescue that is extremely challenging. The key to success in the past has been keeping drives in the short grass. The course is only 6,900 yards, so some pros may only hit driver on a couple holes. Length off the tee does not do much for you at this course, but we have seen it in the past where big hitters succeed on short courses. The big hitters may be hitting 2-iron then wedge in, whereas the shorter hitter may need a 3-wood or driver.

Key Stats

Tee-to-Green Gained

Approach Gained

Scoring Gained

Fairways Gained

Birdie or Better Gained

Short Courses Gained

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 12: Rickie Fowler the United States plays a shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on November 12, 2017 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 12: Rickie Fowler the United States plays a shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on November 12, 2017 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Mayakoba Golf Classic Picks

11,500 Rickie Fowler

Yes he is the most expensive golfer on the board, but he deserves to be. Fowler shot a blazing 63 in the final round Sunday at the Shriners. That is the best final round of his career. Fowler placed T4, finishing the tournament at 17-under. Now, Fowler looks to continue that success at a course where he finished just one stroke shy of the trophy. Last year was Fowler’s only appearance at the Mayakoba Classic, so this year he has some course experience under his belt.

8,600 Ryan Moore

Moore, like Fowler, had a hot hand in the final round of the Shriners. Moore fired a 5-under final round (4-under final 9) to finish the tournament at 10-under. Moore has had varying success in his first 4 starts of the 2019 season. After a 2nd at the Safeway, Korea was not kind to Moore. We will see if Moore can continue his tremendous ball-striking and better his T6 from last year at the Mayakoba Classic.

10,700 Gary Woodland

Woodland is on a tear. He had a strong finish to the 2018 PGA season, and now he has made it 3/3 in top-10 finishes for the 2019 season. Woodland is one of those big hitters that excels on shorter courses, and is showing that throughout the swing swason so far. Woodland finished 2nd at this event in 2016, and 34th in 2017. He is familiar with the course, and his game is firing on all cylinders. On paper he is an easy roster.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 16: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits his first shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the OHL Classic at the Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club on November 16, 2015 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 16: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits his first shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the OHL Classic at the Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club on November 16, 2015 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Mayakoba Golf Classic Values

8,900 JB Holmes

Holmes has had three really good showings to start the 2019 season. T23, T13 and a T9 last week at the Shriners inspires a lot of confidence. Holmes has never played this event before, which scares me, but he should love the slow greens and the less-than-driver layout.

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8,000 Scott Piercy

If only Scott Piercy could putt. His approaches are butter and he ranks 25th in SG:OTT this season. After missing the cut at the Safeway, Piercy has put together a T27, T5 and a T10 last week at the Shriners. If Piercy can figure out these slow seashore paspalum greens, then maybe he can better his 2016 T4 at this event.

7,200 Graham McDowell

McDowell is not a sexy play, but he makes cuts and has shown an affinity for leader-boards throughout his career. McDowell has back-to-back T41’s to start his 2019 campaign. Not inspiring, but I like that McDowell is returning to a course he is very familiar with. McDowell won this event in 2015, finished 24th in 2016, and was 32nd in 2017.

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Check out more articles by the author and make sure to follow @Mystery_Main for up-to-date injuries, withdrawals, and ownership projections up until the tournament. Also, follow @FantasyCPR for your daily fantasy fix.