The world’s top golfers will head this week to the famed El Camaleon course in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for the 2016 staging of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. A cool $7 million is at stake for the elite 132-man field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedExCup points but also the $1.26 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of the 2016 OHL Classic and while you’re at it, you can check out the experts’ picks for this prestigious golf tournament.
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Favorites – Russell Knox (+1,200) and Emiliano Grillo (+1,400)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Russell Knox and Emiliano Grillo installed as favorites to win this week’s OHL Classic. Knox and Grillo are the two highest-ranked players in the field and they are playing some outstanding golf of late. Knox has posted top-10s in each of his last two starts. He also loves playing in this Playa Del Carmen course as evidenced by his runner-up finish in this event last year. Grillo, on the other hand, has finished in the top-30 in each of his last three events, including a solo 11th at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament. With the form that they are both in right now, expect Knox and Grillo to contend once again for the title this week.
High-Value Sleepers – Harris English (+2,200) and Charles Howell III (+3,500)
One golfer who loves playing here in Mexico is Harris English. The Georgia native grabbed his second career PGA Tour title in this event back in 2013. English has been playing some solid golf of late as well, finishing tied for fourth in last week’s Shriners event. Key to English’s resurgence has been his superb play with the putter. He is 17th in the PGA Tour in strokes gained via putting with an impressive .890 clip. That will come in handy for English when tackling the delicate greens here at Mayakoba.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Charles Howell III. In seven career starts here at the OHL Classic, Howell has found the top 20 on five occasions. He tied for 15th at the Shriners last week which is his best result since undergoing surgery to remove possible cancerous glands in his mouth.
One long shot who can definitely make a run at the OHL Classic title this week is Harold Varner III. He finished tied for fifth in this event last year, shooting a 14-under-par total of 270. What makes Varner such a threat in every golf tournament that he competes in is his excellent play from tee to green. He is 22nd in the PGA Tour in strokes gained in that particular department with an impressive 1.341 average. Varner has tremendous power off the tee as well as he is eighth in the Tour in driving distance, averaging 318.4 yards per drive this season. That will be a key weapon for Varner when navigating the par-71, 6,987-yard El Camaleon course.
Writer’s Prediction
Harris English (+2,200) captures his second OHL Classic crown.
