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WGC Mexico: The Top 10 Players in the Field You’ve Never Heard of

By Eric Sedransk

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 04: General view of the pond on green 17th during the final round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club De Golf Chapultepec on March 4, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 04: General view of the pond on green 17th during the final round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club De Golf Chapultepec on March 4, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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WGC Mexico Championship Adrian Otaegui
ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM – MAY 20: Adrian Otaegui of Spain poses with the trophy after beating Benjamin Hebert during their final match to win the tournament on the final day of the Belgian Knockout at Rinkven International Golf Club on May 20, 2018 in Antwerpen, Belgium. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Be honest… How many have you have heard of Adrian Otaegui?

We’re all too familiar with the current crop of Spaniards: Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabreba-Bello, but Otaegui is not too far behind.

The man is ranked 64th in the world. For context, prior to his win at the Genesis Open, J.B. Holmes was 100th.

At 64th in the world that puts him ahead of PGA Tour stalwarts like Luke List (67), Brian Harman (70), Daniel Berger (72), Charley Hoffman (73) and Zach Johnson (77).

Otaegui had quite the journey getting into the field this week.

After Charles Howell III slipped inside the Top 50 (and qualified for the tournament), Byeong Hun An, Tom Lewis, Si Woo Kim and Brandt Snedeker each received invites. However Si Woo and Brandt declined the invitations leading to invites for Satoshi Kodaira and Adam Hadwin. When Hadwin declined the invitation the next man up was Adrian who gladly accepted.

It seems Adrian is quite the fan of Match Play as he was victorious at the 2018 Belgian Knockout (the Euro Tour’s version of March Madness) hosted by Thomas Pieters.

In addition, just this past weekend Otaegui lost in the finals to Ryan Fox 3&2 at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth Match Play. A tournament that’s not all to familiar for American viewers but is co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

If Padraig Harrington is looking for some fresh blood, don’t be surprised if you hear Adrian’s name being tossed around for the European Ryder Cup come 2020.

He’s currently listed at 250/1 odds of winning this week.

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