Mayakoba Golf Classic preview

With the top players competing in the Accenture Match Play Championship this week, the PGA Tour's supporting cast has travelled to Mexico for the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Johnson Wagner is the defending champion.

Johnson Wagner defends Mayakoba Classic (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: With the top players competing in the Accenture Match Play Championship this week, the PGA Tour's supporting cast has travelled to Mexico for the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Johnson Wagner is the defending champion. Although this event doesn't carry the prestige of some on the PGA Tour circuit, it does attract a strong field. Set amid the jungle and mangroves with views out to the beautiful Caribbean Sea, it's not too hard to see why. Designed by Greg Norman, the course at El Camaleon has played host to this event since it was first held in 2007. Norman will be among those teeing it up this week, a rare start for the Great White Shark. Other seniors playing include Tom Lehman, Fred Funk (winner in 2007,) John Cook and Nick Price. Last year Johnson Wagner took the title after he came through against Spencer Levin in a playoff. Both men will be back to do battle at El Camaleon again this week. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast over the weekend so weather delays could be a factor in the final outcome. Venue: El Camaleon, Riviera Maya, Mexico Date: Feb 23-26 Course stats: par 71, 6,987 yards Purse: $3,700,000 Winner: $666,000 Defending Champion: Johnson Wagner (-17)

Player Watch: Johnson Wagner - The defending champion has already won on the 2012 PGA Tour and he has two further top-10 finishes to his name. He clearly enjoys this course and will surely feature again this time round.

Ben Curtis - The 2003 Open champion produced some solid performances in the Middle East, including 13th in Dubai. He could be a dark horse this week.

Jose Maria Olazabal - Another veteran making a start this week, Olazabal has shown glimmers of his best form in recent weeks on the European Tour. In a field where the top-64 in the world are absent, he could leave his mark.

Key hole: 12th. A long par-4 of 451 yards, this testing hole plays back into the prevailing wind. Approach shots must be accurate as the green is small, raised and sloping. Anything just off line will roll off the surface. Statistically, this was the toughest hole on the course in 2011. Where next? WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship - Preview

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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