The PGA TOUR returns after a one-week pause, and the foreign flavor continues as we go from Japan to Mexico, followed by Bermuda next week, with 3 FedExCup Fall tournaments remaining.
For the second consecutive season, the World Wide Technology Championship will be hosted at El Cardonal at Diamante, a Tiger Woods-designed golf course in Los Cabos, Mexico. The defending champion is Erik van Rooyen, who won last year with a score of 27-under. Jeff Sherman, a Las Vegas oddsmaker, predicts more low scores in Mexico and has placed this week’s winning score prop at Over/Under 262.5 (25.5 under).
At this coastal resort course, wind serves as the principal defense. It didn’t blow much last year and doesn’t appear to be a concern this week. The outlook for Thursday is for breezes ranging from 10 to 20 mph, with decreasing winds the following days.
Kevin Streelman, Tom Whitney, and Rico Hoey all fired 5-under 67s in windy conditions on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the World Wide Technology Championship.
The 46-year-old Streelman, who has not won a PGA TOUR event since 2014, started his afternoon round at Tiger Woods’ El Cardonal at Diamante with an eagle and a birdie.
It’s a grueling golf course, especially when the wind is blowing so hard. You need to fix some holes, one of which is No. 1. It’s a downwind par 5, and 18 follows the same pattern. But then you veer into the wind.
Whitney made birdies on the first 3 holes.
“You’re thinking about starting the day on the golf course. I need to get it to 6, 7, and 8. Then the wind starts blowing, and you have to modify your expectations. I’m quite thrilled with 5 under.” Whitney said.
Erik van Rooyen, the defending champion, was one stroke back at 68, along with Taylor Montgomery, Max Greyserman, Nate Lashley, Austin Eckroat, Kelly Kraft, and Ryan McCormick.
“This is a completely different test than the one we had last year. Last year, there was probably only one club of wind.” Van Rooyen said.
Nico Echavarria of Colombia, the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP winner in Japan in his previous start, began with a 69.
“It was a good round, with a strong start and no bogeys. A lot of wind in the morning.” Echavaria said.
