Featured Groups: Mayakoba Golf Classic

The PGA TOUR heads to the scenic Caribbean coast this week for the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Players will balance the beauty of the Mexican Riviera Maya with an El Camaleon course that requires accurate play from the tee.

At just 6,987 yards, El Camaleon allows for a variety of contenders. It annually ranks in the top 10 for shortest average driving distance on TOUR. That’s how reason 50-year-old Fred Funk won the inaugural edition of this event. Patton Kizzire is the most recent champion after squeezing out a one-stroke victory over Rickie Fowler last year.

The Golf Channel will provide live coverage of all four rounds from 1-4 p.m. Eastern. PGA TOUR Radio will air live coverage starting at 10 a.m. for each of the first two rounds and at 11 a.m. on the weekend.

MORE: Tee times

Here’s a look at the Featured Groups for the first two rounds (Note: FedExCup ranking in parentheses; all times Eastern).

Patton Kizzire (105) – Held off Rickie Fowler here last year to pick up his first career win, then won again three starts later at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Qualified for his first TOUR Championship in 2018.
Pat Perez (41) – His 2016 win at Mayakoba was his first since 2009. Has one top-10 (T7, CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES) in three starts this season.
Jordan Spieth (168) – Making his debut at Mayakoba, and playing multiple fall starts for the first time in his career. Finished T55 at last week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (12 p.m.); Rd. 2 (7:30 a.m.)

Cameron Champ (8) – Followed his Sanderson Farms victory with a T28 at Shriners. Was in sixth place after 54 holes at TPC Summerlin but faded with a Sunday 73. Made his pro debut at Mayakoba last year (MC).
Jhonattan Vegas (114) – Three-time TOUR winner from Venezuela played in 2017 Presidents Cup. Has broken par in seven of his past eight rounds at Mayakoba, including a T10 in 2016.
Tony Finau (9) – One of the few who can keep up with Champ off the tee. Averages 332.3 yards, just six yards behind Champ. Finished seventh at Mayakoba as a rookie in 2014. Was runner-up to Xander Schauffele at recent World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (12:10 p.m.); Rd. 2 (7:40 a.m.)

Aaron Wise (90) – Finished T15 at Shriners after being named Rookie of the Year earlier in the week. Is the fifth-youngest player to ever make the TOUR Championship; Only Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia and Si Woo Kim were younger.
Rickie Fowler (38) – Headlining a group of three Rookies of the Year. Finished runner-up in Mayakoba debut last year. Fourth-place finish last week at Shriners was his third consecutive top-10.
Emiliano Grillo (13) – Is off to a strong start as he seeks his first TOUR Championship berth since his rookie season of 2016. Was runner-up at the CIMB Classic and T14 at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (7:30 a.m.); Rd. 2 (12 p.m.)

Billy Horschel (58) – Finished fifth in the 2018 FedExCup, his best finish since winning it all in 2014. Had three top-3 finishes in the FedExCup Playoffs, including a runner-up at the TOUR Championship.
Zach Johnson (NR) – Two-time major winner shot a final-round 64 in his tournament debut last year (T23). Making his first start of the season. Made 23 of 25 cuts, including 14 top-25s, en route to a 58th-place finish in last season’s FedExCup.
Matt Kuchar (173) – Finished T3 at Mayakoba in 2008. THE PLAYERS is among seven career victories, but most recent win came in 2014. Finished 76th in 2018 FedExCup to miss TOUR Championship for first time since 2009.
Tee times: Rd. 1 (7:40 a.m.); Rd. 2 (12:10 p.m.)