The golfing year comes to a conclusion this week as we head down to Mexico for the Mayakoba Golf Classic. It has been a disjointed period for the game but we have seen some memorable action on the fairways and USAbetting is aiming to go out in style with some profitable picks. So read on for our Mayakoba Golf Classic predictions and preview.
Brendon Todd is the defending champion, having won this tournament by one shot from three runners-up last season. Todd is back as the curtain comes down on the year and, while the biggest names are absent just three weeks after the Masters, we have a seriously competitive field and should see some top class action across the four days.
The cancellation of the Hero World Challenge may well have given us a stronger field than usual in this event. At the top of the outright betting, Justin Thomas is favorite to win the Mayakoba Golf Classic at a general 6/1.
JT also leads the power rankings as he returns to the tournament for the first time since a tie for 23rd on debut five years ago. Since then, he has emerged as one of the world’s best golfers and he arrives in Mexico with four top ten finishes in his last five starts.
Behind the market leader, there is a significant gap to second favorite Brooks Koepka who is quoted at 11/1 with most U.S. sports betting outlets. He is back to full fitness and has two top 10 finishes in his last two outings so he just needs to end that reputation for lifting his game only at the Majors.
Harris English follows at best odds of 16/1 while Abraham Ancer, Tony Finau and Daniel Berger can all be picked up at 20/1 in places. Of those names, English is a former champion having claimed this tournament in 2013 and his four shot win is the widest margin of victory to date.
Like Justin Thomas, Berger is making just his second appearance in the event while Ancer is back after a solid performance over three days at Augusta.
Moving through the chasing pack, Viktor Hovland is quoted at 22/1 while Russell Henley and Rickie Fowler are both available at 25/1. Hovland could be a standout from that list: He is a consistent player with a run of top 20 finishes but he is not threatening the very top of the leaderboard just yet.
There’s plenty of potential for value in the outside bunch this week and we’ll start with Corey Conners and Will Zalatoris who are both available at a best of 33/1. Zalatoris made that breakthrough at the US Open in Winged Foot and he began the season with three top 10 finishes in four starts. Conners is a solid contender and looks to have good, relevant stats for this Mexico course.
Billy Horschel will tempt many this week at generous odds of 40/1 while there is interest in Carlos Ortiz who is listed at the same figure in places. One of three runners-up behind Brendon Todd here in 2019, Ortiz was a Tour winner on his last start and his fourth place in the Power Rankings suggests he is one to follow.
Other names that readers may want to consider include defending champion Todd at 50/1, while Sebastian Munoz, Marc Leishman and Adam Long are all at similar odds.
Our Preview’s Mayakoba Classic Predictions & Picks Verdict with Course & Betting Trends
The Mayakoba Golf Classic was first held in 2007 when Fred Funk won the title, edging out Jose Coceres in a playoff. In 13 editions to this point, no golfer has lifted the trophy more than once, so the odds are against a repeat winner in 2020.
The action takes place on the El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa Del Carmen and the course is a par 71 which comes in at a fraction under 7,000 yards. Recent editions of this tournament show that accuracy off the tee has been a vital stat while, in contrast, driving distance holds little relevance. Brendon Todd finished 79th out of 82 golfers in driving distance last year so there should be little advantage for the power hitters.
Fairways hit and Green in Regulation should hold the key while scrambling and putts per GIR have also been pivotal in the recent past.
It is another tough call if you’re looking beyond the favorite. Justin Thomas makes a compelling case but he is too short for comfort at 6/1 with the sportsbooks. Instead, USAbetting is putting our money behind Will Zalatoris, who looks set for a stellar 2021. He has that consistency and, if the favorites are off their game, Zalatoris has the star quality, and the relevant stats, to come through the rest of the field. These are the Mayakoba predictions and picks for this golf tournament preview:
- Take Will Zalatoris to win @ best odds of +4750 (47.5/1) with Bookmaker. These are standout odds that may not last as he is 33/1 mostly.
- Top 10 finish picks: Zalatoris (+300 best at BetOnline, Intertops), Corey Conners (+300 BetOnline, Intertops), Rickie Fowler (+275 BetOnline) and Billy Horschel (+400 BetOnline).
Matt Harris is a golf and soccer expert for USA Betting. His other area of specialist knowledge is cricket. He is well known in sports journalism and contributes articles to a plethora of big-name websites and media outlets. Titles that he writes or has written for include: Betfair, BetVictor, Unibet & Just Bookies.