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Power Rankings: Mayakoba Golf Classic
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November 05, 2018
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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Shots of the Week
Shots of the Week
Like countless musicians, Jimmy Buffett loves himself some golf. He even caddied in a pro-am at the U.S. Senior Women's Open this past summer. So, if the Mayakoba Golf Classic would have debuted oh, say, 40 years ago (instead of in 2007), he may have been persuaded to write "Ball-strikers in Paradise" instead of his timeless hit about a cheeseburger.
While the song conveys a message of wanting to eat healthier, there is no such concern of overindulging on fairways and greens at El Camaleón Golf Club this week. In fact, it's the objective more than usual.
Scroll past the ranking for an explanation, what has defined the champions and more.
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 15 
J.B. Holmes First trip since missing the cut in the first edition of the tournament (2007). Rested since a T23 at Nine Bridges. That chased a solo ninth at Silverado and T13 at TPC Kuala Lumpur.First trip since missing the cut in the first edition of the tournament (2007). Rested since a T23 at Nine Bridges. That chased a solo ninth at Silverado and T13 at TPC Kuala Lumpur.
14 
Chez Reavie A horse for the course with some form upon arrival. He's 5-for-5 here with a T4 (2016) and T14 (2017). Also 4-for-4 on the season with a T7 at Nine Bridges. Turns 37 years of age next Monday.A horse for the course with some form upon arrival. He's 5-for-5 here with a T4 (2016) and T14 (2017). Also 4-for-4 on the season with a T7 at Nine Bridges. Turns 37 years of age next Monday.13 
Joaquin Niemann T10 at Shriners: fifth in distance of all drives, third in proximity, T1 in par-5 scoring. Won 2017 Mexican International Amateur at Campeche GC (on opposite coast on Yucatan Peninsula).T10 at Shriners: fifth in distance of all drives, third in proximity, T1 in par-5 scoring. Won 2017 Mexican International Amateur at Campeche GC (on opposite coast on Yucatan Peninsula).12 
Ryan Moore A 35-year-old best known as a tee-to-green specialist who's 2-for-2 at El Camaleón with a T6 last year when he led the field in scrambling. Opened 2018-19 with a playoff loss at Silverado.A 35-year-old best known as a tee-to-green specialist who's 2-for-2 at El Camaleón with a T6 last year when he led the field in scrambling. Opened 2018-19 with a playoff loss at Silverado.11 
Jordan Spieth The good news after a T55 at Shriners debut was that he ranked 18th in strokes gained: putting. The bad news as he plays El Camaleón for the first time is that ball-striking has to improve.The good news after a T55 at Shriners debut was that he ranked 18th in strokes gained: putting. The bad news as he plays El Camaleón for the first time is that ball-striking has to improve.10 
Scott Piercy Hung up a T10 at home in Vegas on the heels of a T5 in South Korea. Ranked T5 in fairways hit, T17 in GIR and second in proximity at TPC Summerlin. T16-T4 in last two trips to Mayakoba.Hung up a T10 at home in Vegas on the heels of a T5 in South Korea. Ranked T5 in fairways hit, T17 in GIR and second in proximity at TPC Summerlin. T16-T4 in last two trips to Mayakoba.9 
Abraham Ancer Wielded a hot putter to finish T4 the Shriners. Now 98th in the OWGR, he's easily the best among those playing under the Mexican flag. Five top 10s in last 11 starts. T9 here last year.Wielded a hot putter to finish T4 the Shriners. Now 98th in the OWGR, he's easily the best among those playing under the Mexican flag. Five top 10s in last 11 starts. T9 here last year.8 
J.J. Spaun Finished T15 at Shriners and led field in strokes gained: approach-the-green. Placed T10 in previous start in South Korea. T14 at El Camaleón last year; 68.50 scoring average in eight rounds.Finished T15 at Shriners and led field in strokes gained: approach-the-green. Placed T10 in previous start in South Korea. T14 at El Camaleón last year; 68.50 scoring average in eight rounds.7 
Aaron Wise The 2017-18 Rookie of the Year picked up where he left off at the TOUR Championship with a T15 at TPC Summerlin. Second in total driving in last week's field and first with 27 birdies.The 2017-18 Rookie of the Year picked up where he left off at the TOUR Championship with a T15 at TPC Summerlin. Second in total driving in last week's field and first with 27 birdies.6 
Charles Howell III A regular at Mayakoba since 2009, he's 8-for-9 with three top 10s and another four top 20s. His scoring average in 34 rounds here is 68.65. Began the new season with a T5 at the CIMB.A regular at Mayakoba since 2009, he's 8-for-9 with three top 10s and another four top 20s. His scoring average in 34 rounds here is 68.65. Began the new season with a T5 at the CIMB.5 
Si Woo Kim Led the field in strokes gained: putting at the Shriners (T15) and holed all 56 attempts from 9 feet and in, 20 of which from outside 3 feet. Solo third here last year. T17 in 2015.Led the field in strokes gained: putting at the Shriners (T15) and holed all 56 attempts from 9 feet and in, 20 of which from outside 3 feet. Solo third here last year. T17 in 2015.4 
Tony Finau Connected four sub-70s at TPC Summerlin, yet still settled for a T36. Adapts everywhere, evident by a T7 in his first look at Mayakoba in 2014, but it's been apparent throughout 2018.Connected four sub-70s at TPC Summerlin, yet still settled for a T36. Adapts everywhere, evident by a T7 in his first look at Mayakoba in 2014, but it's been apparent throughout 2018.3 
Gary Woodland Back-doored a T10 at the Shriners with a sizzling 63 on Sunday. No worse than T12 in last five starts. Runner-up at El Camaleón in 2016. Scoring average in last eight rounds here = 67.88.Back-doored a T10 at the Shriners with a sizzling 63 on Sunday. No worse than T12 in last five starts. Runner-up at El Camaleón in 2016. Scoring average in last eight rounds here = 67.88.2 
Emiliano Grillo Already his fifth start but had last week off. T2 at CIMB is the highlight thus far. Third straight appearance at El Camaleón where he's gone T10-T9 with a scoring average of 67.88.Already his fifth start but had last week off. T2 at CIMB is the highlight thus far. Third straight appearance at El Camaleón where he's gone T10-T9 with a scoring average of 67.88.1 
Rickie Fowler Strong putting yielded a T4 at TPC Summerlin. It's also how he earned runner-up honors in his Mayakoba debut a year ago. Still chasing first win anywhere since 2017 Hero World Challenge.Strong putting yielded a T4 at TPC Summerlin. It's also how he earned runner-up honors in his Mayakoba debut a year ago. Still chasing first win anywhere since 2017 Hero World Challenge.Former champions Charley Hoffman (2014), Pat Perez (2016) and Patton Kizzire (2017) will be covered in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider along with Kevin Kisner, Zach Johnson and Billy Horschel among other notables.
You may need to be of a certain age to appreciate Buffett's music, but most of the winners of the Mayakoba Golf Classic qualify. Beginning with Fred Funk as a 50-year-old in the inaugural edition and extending through Patton Kizzire, 31, last year, the average age among the 11 winners is 34.45. Only John Huh (21) in 2012 and Harris English (24) in 2013 weren't at least 30.
Compare that against the first six winners of the 2018-19 season for whom the average age is 27.33. At 34 years of age at the time of his win at the CIMB Classic, Marc Leishman easily is the oldest.
Indeed, El Camaleón is the closest thing to a governor on the youth movement in the fall. Two-inch primary rough guards fairways on a walk that is akin to a golf safari. It consists of jungle, mangroves and the seashore. The cenote in the middle of the fairway on the par-5 seventh hole is a bonus.
The steady breeze off the Caribbean Sea on the Riviera Maya forces undulating greens to be capped at 11 feet on the Stimpmeter. The par-3 fourth and 15th holes are most exposed, but consistency is required throughout the course on which only paspalum is present. Yet, since the Mayakoba Golf Classic shifted to the fall when the wraparound season was launched in 2013-14, its par 3s have been the easiest on which to score four times. (They slotted second-easiest in 2014.)
Managing one's ball flight is secondary to dealing with adversity when an unpredictable gust of wind manipulates its direction. That's one of the reasons why experience as a professional has carried elevated value at El Camaleón, a par 36-35--71 tipping at just 6,987 yards.
Last year's scoring average of 70.323 was a five-year high, so eagles and birdies are out there. En route to his title, Kizzire ranked T7 in greens in regulation and third in converting those chances into par breakers. He also finished fourth in putts per GIR and T3 in par-5 scoring. (ShotLink isn't utilized for the tournament.)
Inclement weather often cannot be ruled out in these climes. This is the reality again this week as rain and the threat of storms bookend the four-day competition. Otherwise, mostly dry, warm and humid conditions are expected. The wind should lay down, however. As it does, the expectation for red numbers rises.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings
TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider
WEDNESDAY: One & Done, Twitter live fantasy show
* - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
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