Wednesday, February 28, 2018

What to Look For: 2018 WGC - Mexico



The first World Golf Championship of the year takes place with the Tour making a stop at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Naucalpan, Mexico. This is the second year in a row they have played the event at Mexico as it was previously a stop at Doral.

Thus far the course has gotten a lot of praise, particularly over Doral where players did not care too much for the Gil Hanse renovations. Chapultepec was designed by former US Open winner, Willie Smith. Smith moved to Mexico in 1904 to be a golf pro and was later injured in the Mexican Revolution as he refused to leave his post (https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/2/27/welcome-wgc-mexico-citys-club-de-chapultepec.html)

Smith passed away in 1914 as the course design was not completed. His brother, Alex, finished the design in 1921.

There’s a great story about how the pros are rushing to their launch monitors due the extreme altitudes at Chapultepec that can be found here:

Pros Running to Launch Monitors for WGC Mexico

A lot of this reminds me of Castle Pines which was one of the best courses on Tour with its old school design and high elevations.

Anyway, last year’s data shows that the course was very much a long approach and quality driving course, so that is the golfers I’m most interested in.


3JACK FAVORITES

Dustin +650
Thomas +800
Rahm +1,100
Fleetwood +1,600


3JACK DARK HORSE PICKS

Pieters +3,300
Henley +10,000





3JACK


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