World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba: PGA Tour Golf Betting Odds
It’s the 16th consecutive year the Tour visits the Riviera Maya. Somewhat ironic that Greg Norman designed the host course, El Camaleón Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, a par 71 at about 7,035 yards, since Norman is basically persona non grata on the Tour these days because of his role in LIV Golf. The past two tournaments here had no fans because of COVID, but they will be there this year. In 2021, World Wide Technology was announced as the new title sponsor of the event in a deal lasting until 2027.
The two-time defending champion is Norway’s Viktor Hovland. He shot 20-under 264 in 2020 to win by a shot over Aaron Wise and then shot a tournament record 23-under 261 last year to beat out second-place Carlos Ortiz by four. Hovland did the majority of his damage on the par 5s, making birdies on his first 11 par 5s in the tournament. He became the first player to defend his title in event history. In his two Mayakoba wins, Hovland has rounds of 63, 65, 62 and 67 on the weekends.
“Mayakoba is a very special place to me, having played my first PGA TOUR event there; I missed my first two cuts playing in the event, but it was nice to get some revenge and win the next two and I look forward to adding more to that,” Hovland said. “For me, the week of Mayakoba is almost like a vacation, it’s the best Resort I’ve ever been to, and the golf course is in excellent condition. It’s a perfect work-vacation balance, I love everything about it.”
Ortiz, from Mexico, was a runner-up for the second time at Mayakoba, having also done so in 2019 when American Brendon Todd won. The only other non-American to win the tournament was Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell in 2015.
Among the sponsor exemptions are a handful of Mexican players like Jose de Jesus Rodriguez and Sebastian Vazquez, as well as DP World Tour winner Adri Arnaus of Spain and the University of Texas’ Travis Vick. Seven former winners of the event are in the field.
World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba Golf Odds
Reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler is the +900 favourite. He was fourth here last year. Viktor Hovland is +1100 to win for the third year in a row. There hasn’t been a three-peat on the PGA Tour since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic from 2009-11. Hovland apparently likes tropical climates as he also has won the Puerto Rico Open and the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
Tony Finau and Collin Morikawa are each +1600 with Billy Horschel +1800, Aaron Wise +2000, and Taylor Montgomery and Tom Hoge +2200. Finau has a best result of T8 in the tournament and Morikawa is making his debut. Horschel was T5 two years ago. Wise was a runner-up in 2020. Montgomery, a Korn Ferry Tour grad, has finished T15 in all four PGA starts this season.
No Canadian has won the tournament. Nick Taylor was T33 last year with Adam Svensson T45 and Adam Hadwin T56. Roger Sloan missed the cut as did Taylor Pendrith. Taylor is +12200 this week with Svensson +12700 and Michael Gligic +23200.
World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba Golf Predictions
Have to take Viktor Hovland for a Top 10, but the winner at +2500 is Maverick McNealy. He has improved here each of the past two years with a T11 in 2021.