Expert Picks: Mayakoba Golf Classic

text size

Feb. 23, 2011

The PGA TOUR travels to El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for the Mayakoba Golf Classic this week. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

EXPERT PICKS
How it works: Our experts from PGATOUR.COM select the player they think will win this week's event. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same. The player who wins the previous week picks last the following week.
MORE: Power Rankings | Inside the Field | Inside the Course | FANTASY GOLF: Play our game -- FREE!

Expert picks: Mayakoba Golf Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Brian Wacker			JHONATTAN VEGAS. He's had three finishes inside the top 12, including a win and a tie for third. Vegas is also coming off a final-round 66 at Riviera in the Northern Trust Open. The dream season will continue in Mexico.

John Swantek			BRIAN GAY. The 2008 Champion finished 20th in his title defense the following year. He missed last year's event because he qualified for the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship but is back on a track that he thrives on.
If Swantek had the top pick ... Gay
Ryan Smithson			J.J. HENRY. Good start to the 2011 season for this big hitter who finished second here in 2009. Tied for ninth last week in the Northern Trust Open after a 66 on Sunday. Hasn't yet missed a cut this year. Translation: I just jinxed him.
If Smithson had the top pick ... Gay
Helen Ross			AARON BADDELEY. I can't pass this Aussie up, not after his gutsy performance on Sunday at Riviera Country Club. The win at the Northern Trust Open was a long time coming -- why not make it two in a row?
If Ross had the top pick ... Baddeley
John Schwarb			JERRY KELLY. He started the season well with a T9 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and T13 at the Bob Hope Classic. At the Mayakoba, he hasn't finished lower than 28th in three starts, including a T6 in '09.
If Schwarb had the top pick ... Kelly
Lauren Deason			SPENCER LEVIN. I'm going to go with our Power Rankings and select Spencer Levin, who is currently 21st in the FedExCup standings. He tied for 28th at Mayakoba last year and has already notched a T4 and a T12 this season.
If Deason had the top pick ... Vegas
Chris Dunham			BRINY BAIRD. He's getting limited starts as he fights to regain full status, and has a big opportunity in Mexico, where he has three consecutive top-15 finishes. Maybe it's the hat. Maybe it's his flamingo putting. But I like the guy's style.
If Dunham had the top pick ... Henry
Anne Szeker			CHARLES HOWELL III. Howell has a pair of top-15 finishes this season and has played decently at this event in the past. He posted a two rounds in the 60s in last year's Mayakoba Golf Classic to finish tied for 20th.
If Szeker had the top pick ... Henry
Mike McAllister			CAMERON BECKMAN. When in doubt, take the defending champion. Beckman was the only player in the field with four rounds in the 60s last year. He's played well in three of five 2010 starts, so he should tee off Thursday feeling good about his chances.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Vegas

Standings after Week 5

LAST WEEK: Mike McAllister again picks No. 9 after tying Anne Szeker for the best week at the Northern Trust Open.
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	0	3	3	5	834.88
2	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	3	4	4	643.50
3	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	3	5	571.60
4	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	3	3	358.57
5	Anne Szeker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	2	3	330.38
6	Chris Dunham Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	3	3	322.66
7	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	2	3	280.40
8	John Schwarb Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	3	238.00
9	John Swantek Host, On The Tee	0	0	1	2	194.00