The World Wide Technology Championship, the fifth event of the PGA Tour’s new FedEx Cup Fall series, will tee it up in the tropical wonderland of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico at El Cardonal at Diamante golf course.
The 128-player field in Mexico will feature Cameron Young, who makes his return after a 10-week absence. At No. 16, Young is the top-ranked player in the field this week. Additional top-50 ranked players include Sahith Theegala (29), Lucas Glover (32), Emiliano Grillo (34) and Chris Kirk (49).
As we do each week, here’s a rundown of facts and figures to get you prepped for a week of tour golf in Mexico.
The Skinny
World Wide Championship
PGA Tour Debut: 2007
Event Week: 5 of 7 (FedEx Fall)
Dates:Â Nov. 2-5, 2023
Where: Los Cabos, Mexico
Course:Â El Cardonal at Diamante
Distance: Par 72, 7452 yards
Architect: Tiger Woods
Field: 128 players, 36-hole cut
Purse: $8,200,000
Winning Share: $1,476,000
FedExCup Pts: 500
2022 Champion:Â Russell Henley
How to Follow the World Wide Championship
TELEVISION: Thu-Sat: 4:30-7:30 p.m.; Sun: 3-6 p.m. (GOLF)
RADIO: Thu-Sat: 2-7:30 p.m.; Sun: 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM)
LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
World Wide Championship History
Then titled the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun, the event debuted in February 2007 as the first PGA Tour event ever contested outside of North America (U.S. and Canada), and the first-ever Tour event in Mexico.
The tournament launched as an opposite-field event with a purse of $3.5 million (and a winner’s share of $630,000), along with 300 FedExCup points.
Fred Funk took home the inaugural title in a playoff over José Coceres of Argentina. The then 50-year old Funk, who had won on the Champions Tour earlier in the year, became the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event in nearly 32 years.
In 2013, the tournament was upgraded to a full-grade PGA Tour event and moved to November as part of its wrap-around season, offering a larger purse ($6 million) and a full 500 FedEx Cup points.
Since the upgrade in 2013, the champions list has also improved with winners including familiar names such as Harris English, Graeme McDowell, Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, and Viktor Hovland.
Known as “The Golf Classic” locally, it allocates four additional sponsor exemptions designated for players of Spanish or Mexican heritage from Latin America, South America, Spain, or Mexico.
In 2021, World Wide Technology was announced as the new title sponsor of the event, in a deal lasting until 2027.
History: Recent Winners
2022: Russell Henley (-23)
2021: Viktor Hovland (-23)
2020: Viktor Hovland (-20)
2019: Brendon Todd (-20)
2018: Matt Kuchar (-22)
2017: Patton Kizzire (-19)
2016: Pat Perez (-21)
2015: Graeme McDowell (−18)
2014: Charley Hoffman (−17)
2013: Harris English (−21)
History: Tournament Records
Low Round: 61 (Roland Thatcher, 2008)
Low Score: -23 (Russell Henley (2022), Viktor Hovland (2021))
The Golf Course: El Cardonal at Diamante
El Cardonal at Diamante, the new host of the World Wide Championship, is a Tiger Woods-design located in Los Cabos, Mexico.
The par 72 opened in 2014 and is the first Woods-designed course to host a PGA Tour event. The track stretches to 7,452-yard along the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas. There is a dramatic 240-foot drop in elevation from the 17th tee to the third fairway – which means the topography will be demanding for players and caddies.
Expect the turf to play firm and fast, as the area receives a mere six inches of rain each year. The wind will be a big factor as well, but the fairways are very wide while the greens are gigantic.
The course is situated along the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, which has become a major destination in the world of golf. Having a desert climate cooled by persistent winds and exposure along two shorelines, the Gulf of California to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west is a recipe for an idyllic setting.
The World Wide Championship Field
The field in Mexico includes five players ranked inside the world top 50, including Cameron Young (16), Sahith Theegala (29), Lucas Glover (32), Emiliano Grillo (34) and Chris Kirk (49).
Additional marquee players to watch include Ludvig Aberg, Maverick McNealy, K.H. Lee, Russell Knox, and Matt Kuchar, among others.
Top-5 Betting Favorites
Pos-Player-Odds
1. Ludvig Aberg (9-1)
2. Cameron Young (12-1)
3. Sahith Theegala (14-1)
4. Beau Hossler (20-1)
5. Emiliano Grillo (25-1)
5. Lucas Glover (25-1)
5. Stephan Jaeger (25-1)
Up Next On Tour
Following the World Wide Championship, the PGA Tour heads to Bermuda for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Course, the sixth of seven events on the new FedEx Fall Series.
The 2024 season will get underway in January with the traditional swing through Hawaii before moving to the West Coast.
2023 Fall Series
Nov. 09-12 Butterfield Bermuda Championship (Southampton, BER)
Nov. 16-19 The RSM Classic (St. Simons Island, GA)
–HOLIDAY BREAK–
2024 Season
Jan. 04-07 The Sentry (Kapalua HI)
Jan. 11-14Sony Open in Hawaii (Honolulu, HI)
Jan. 18-21 The American Express (La Quinta, CA)
Credits: Getty Images, PGA Tour Media
