World Wide Technology Championship 2025 preview, picks & analysis

Austin Eckroat returns to Mexico to defend his World Wide Technology Championship title, one of two victories he enjoyed in 2024. He shot a nine-under 63 for a one-stroke victory over Justin Lower and Carson Young.

Playing in the group ahead of Lower and Young, Eckroat birdied the par-four 17th to open a three-stroke lead over Young, then finished with a bogey on the par-five 18th at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante. "I think it kind of validates the season that I had, just a great way to cap off and end the year," Eckroat said. 

Needing an eagle to force a playoff, Young birdied the 18th for a 65. "I hit a bunch of good iron shots, especially on the back nine," Young said. "I shot 7 under, so I played good, I can’t be too mad about it." Lower closed with an eagle for a 65. "I played well," Lower said. "I said yesterday I had to shoot probably somewhere between five and nine under again just to have a chance. Shot seven under and came up one short."

Eckroat finished the week on 24-under 264. He also won the Cognizant Classic in March 2024 at PGA National for his first PGA Tour title.

The win in Mexico took him to 34th in the world rankings. He currently sits in 105th place, which will give you an idea of the kind of year he has endured since that success. 

He has made 25 starts, missing 10 cuts and enjoying just five top-25 finishes. His best weeks of 2025 came at the John Deere Classic and Procore Championship - he finished tied 11th at both. So he will be looking to draw on some positive memories this week.

After this week there are just two regular tournaments left for players to improve their rankings and secure their tour cards for 2026 - the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and the RSM Classic.

It is a big week for Max Greyserman. He currently sits in 51st place in the FedEx Cup standings - if he can get himself into the top 50 it guarantees his place in next season’s lucrative signature events, where much gold is on offer. The big-hitting South African Garrick Higgo has a similar incentive. He is currently 57th.

For the likes of Joel Dahmen, the battle is a very different one. He tees off in Mexico in 108th place facing a stark reality - unless he can somehow clamber into the top 100 he will be heading to Korn Ferry Tour in 2026 and an uncertain future. Dahmen is an infuriating individual, a golfer who is clearly talented but admits that he does not enjoy putting in the hard yards. 

It has to be said that Dahmen is in good company. Brandt Snedeker (119), Matt Kuchar (120), Seamus Power (134) and Sahith Theegala (140) have all endured miserable seasons. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all has been the dreadful form of Theegala. Unbelievably, his best finish was a tie for 17th at the Genesis way back in February. He withdrew from the Truist in May after rounds of 74 and 77 and then missed four successive cuts, including at The Open. 

On the other side of the coin is Ben Griffin, who has enjoyed a wonderful campaign but will know exactly what Theegala is going through.

He turned professional in 2018 after graduating from North Carolina and began playing on the PGA Tour Canada.

In 2019, he played on the PGA Tour Canada and Korn Ferry Tour. In 2020, he played on the PGA Tour Latinamerica and the Locali Q Series.

His form was so patchy that he stepped away from golf for most of 2021 and worked as a loan officer for a mortgage group in North Carolina.

He returned to golf and earned his Korn Ferry Tour card for 2022 via Q-school.

In 2022, Griffin played on the Korn Ferry Tour and finished runner-up in three times and ended the season in eight place in the points table, securing his PGA Tour card.

He was runner-up at the 2023 Sanderson Farms and 2024 Canadian Open. And then he teamed up with Andrew Novak to win the Zurich Classic before claiming the Charles Schwab Classic and making the US Ryder Cup team.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2018 by Matt Kuchar, in 2019 by Brendon Todd, in 2020 and 2021 by Viktor Hovland, in 2022 by Russell Henley, in 2023 by Erik van Royen and last year by Austin Eckroat

The Course:

El Cardonal is a par 72 measuring 7,363 yards. Designed by Tiger Woods, it carves its way through natural dunes and features a lot of bunkers. It is a classic risk-and-reward course - and that means you are going to see some low scores.

Form Guide:

JJ Spaun is enjoying the year of his life. It all started when he lost the Players Championship in a playoff to Rory McIlroy and reached its peak when he drained a massive putt on the final green to win the US Open.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is $7.5m, with around $1.3m going to the winner along with 500 FedEx Cup points.

How to Watch:

Thursday, November 6, Sky Sports Golf, 8pm; Friday, November 7, Sky Sports Golf, 8pm; Saturday, November 8, Sky Sports Golf, 8pm; Sunday, November 9, Sky Sports Golf, 8pm.

To Win:

JJ Spaun. Year of his life

Each Way:

Ben Griffin. Proven winner

Each Way:

Keith Mitchell. Glorious golf swing

Five to Follow:

JJ Spaun. Full of self-belief

Ben Griffin. Two-time winner in 2025

Keith Mitchell. Big hitter

Joel Dahmen. Make or break

Garrick Higgo. Needs to find some consistency