Off to Mexico this week for the World Wide Technologies at Mayakoba as the tour starts to see some bigger names coming back to their trade. It's a B list event and a B list field but nonetheless it's very interesting to see the likes of our first selection, Aberg, Young and putting guru Lucas Glover!
El Cardonal course in Cabo, San Lucas, Mexico is a new course, designed by some bloke called Tiger Woods and this Par 72, 7,452 yard track is a wide open, undulating course where big hitting, lag putting and fitness will be the tests. Woods has stated he feels strategy will be the main test, but given the gradients on the course, and the wide open spaces it's going to a brutal test physically, rather than tactically. Golf is not always a young mans game, but this week youthful exuberance, and fitness are to the fore......and putting!!!
A poor back 9 from Grillo 2 weeks ago, cost us 2 places as Hisatsune showed his talent with a strong finish for a tied 6th place with us losing a 3rd of the return due to a place share, but a small profit 1st up is no small thing. It was great to see Morikawa overcome his putting woes and show his class, and show he is genuinely world class, the game is better for him being better so he is one to watch for the coming season, especially in the majors and at Muirfield, Riviera and Bay Hill.
So this week selections are as followed, with 3 selections with a strong chance and a wild crazy stab in the dark (as per usual).
1st up this week we have SAHITH THEEGALA. He's nothing new to the blog, but given his prowess, talent and recent win at the Fortinet, coupled with the wide fairways this week and no recent injury woes, I was very surprised to see him so at 16/1 top 7 places with Betway. I won't be investing in Betway, but there is plenty of 14/1 out there and we go with a 8pts e/w this week with Bet 365 top 8, and given the fairways are the width of Mexico, a live chance of a winner.
Next up is a blog regular, and if youth, driving distance and long putting was a cake, WILL GORDON would have all the ingredients to be utterly delicious. Along with Ben Griffin he is a sleeper player on tour, He performed well at the Zozo 2 weeks ago, and although he has only 1 top 10 on tour, he won't have played many courses like this. He doesn't hole many short and mid range putts compared with his contemporaries, but he is 25th on tour putting from 25ft or longer, and given his Driving brilliance, this could be a tailor made course for him and we are 2pts e/w 100/1 8 places with Paddy Power.
Next up another favourite of mine looks like his game is trending back to the top of the markets, as TAYLOR MONTGOMERY continues his rehabilitation after losing about 2million dollars in an hours golf at Sawgrass. He never recovered, and yet this lad is the best putter in the world bar none, regardless of stats saying his is 2nd (Maverick McNealy only played half of last season). After missing 6 cuts out of 7 he has shown glimpses of being back to form with a 35th at the Shriners and then 3 excellent rounds at the Zozo (most players struggled on the friday) culminating in a 16th place finish. He's 50/1 with Hills top 8 this week and we are 4pts e/w on him, not just in hope.
Last but by no means least the young and long stat is thrown out with the rule book as there is amazing value at the bottom of the market. The aging and squat DAVID LINGMERTH spent years in the wilderness after putting woes that almost ended his career. He found a putter and a technique at the end of the 2022 season sand in 2023 that yielded 5 top 10s. Now this comes with a health warning, as he has suffered with back problems and even withdrew at the Canadian Open this year, but given his long putting and stats on 3 putts, if he can get around this place fit then his odds bely his all round ability. A 3rd place in the Scottish and then in top 5 contention on Sunday at the open before being literally blown off the course, Lingy has since taken over 2 months out to get right and a good showing to make the cut and get 4 rounds in 2 weeks ago puts him in good stead. He is a whopping 300/1 8 places with Hills and he gets the last point of the week e/w.
Given the extra investment this week on Sahith, JJ Spaun missed selection, but he is tipped for a top 20 this week and one for the new year who could have a stellar season.
As always bet within your means and responsibly, and don't give the bookies your money, just loan them your stake and keep picking their pockets.
TEWT
In Summary (all 8 places)
Theegala 8pts e/w Bet365
Gordon 2pts e/w 100/1 Paddy Power
Montgomery 4pts e/w 50/1 Hills
Lingmerth 1pt e/w 300/1 Hills