OHL Classic at Mayakoba Preview

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

WHEN Graeme McDowell teed the ball up at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba 12 months ago he had few expectations after what had been a poor year that had seen him tumble down the world rankings. What a surprise then that after 72 holes he found himself tied with Scotland's Rusell Knox. The Northern Irishman would go on to win the playoff and head into 2016 with renewed confidence.

It  turned out to be a false dawn and he has largely struggled all year. But he will draw huge inspiration from what he achieved last year, and also from the fact that this is a tournament that bucks the age trend - the average age of the winner here is almost 38. 

This was the tournament won in 2012 by John Huh after an astonishing eight-hole playoff with Robert Allenby, the Australian whose golf and life have gone off the rails in the past couple of years. 2013 winner Harris English is also in the field. It was won in 2010 by Cameron Beckman, in 2011 by Johnson Wagner and in 2014 by Charley Hoffman.

One of the most striking things about that list is that, English apart, none of them are especially big hitters. El Camaleon Golf Club is a par 71 that measures just, 7,039 yards and it is a shotmaker's course. It wends its way through tropical jungle, mangroves and oceanfront sand dunes and it is made to measure for Luke Donald.

The former world No1 has struggled during the past couple of years, but there were some encouraging signs during the summer that he was starting to bed in the swing changes he has been working on. He is long overdue a victory and with the skills he possesses with the his short irons and putter this just might be the week where everything heads back in the right direction for Donald.

Jim Furyk is another veteran looking to make up for lost time, having spent months on the sidelines in 2016 as he recovered from a wrist injury that threatened to end his career. Not a bit of it - Furyk bounced back to such good effect that he became the first man in PGA Tour history to record a 58 in competitive play. He even came close to stealing one of Davis Love's US Ryder Cup wildcards. Like Donald and McDowell, Furyk's strength is his ability to keep the ball in play.

And that is why my tip for the week is Russell Knox. He should have won it 12 months ago, when he arrived in Mexico on the crest of a wave after winning the WGC Champions tournament in Shanghai. Knox has now arrived as a world-class golfer and has no weaknesses. He is one of the most accurate drivers in the game, which is just as well as he can't compete with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson in the power stakes. He is a wonderful iron player and, having been brought up in Scotland, knows how to keep the ball low when the wind blows, as it often does in this part of the world. Throw in a magnificent touch with the wedge and a glorious putting stroke and you have the complete package.

I also have a sneaky feeling that Johnson Wagner just might fancy the job this week. After a long struggle with his game, he emerged from the doldrums in 2015 and rediscovered his consistency throughout 2016, giving himself several chances to win. Wagner is another man with a magical touch on and around the greens, and that is the key to winning here.

To Win: Russell Knox. Touch of an angel

Each Way: Johnson Wagner:. Full of confidence again

Each Way: Jim Furyk. Improves with age - how?

Fantasy Picks:

Russell Knox. Loves this place

Johnson Wagner. Ready to win 

Jim Furyk. Always dangerous

Luke Donald. Made to measure for the Englishman

John Huh. Has done well here before

Jon Rahm. Can win anywhere - and will do

Chris Kirk. Playing REALLY well right now

Harris English. Good memories

Gary Woodland. Hits it MILES