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2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic: Top 10 power rankings at El Camaleon

By Mike Randleman

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 18: Brendon Todd of the United States, Harris English of the United States and Vaughn Taylor of the United States walk on the 17th hole during the continuation of the final round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course on November 18, 2019 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 18: Brendon Todd of the United States, Harris English of the United States and Vaughn Taylor of the United States walk on the 17th hole during the continuation of the final round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course on November 18, 2019 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Nov 6, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Viktor Hovland tees off the 11th during the second round of the Houston Open golf tournament at Memorial Park Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Viktor Hovland tees off the 11th during the second round of the Houston Open golf tournament at Memorial Park Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

I feel like a broken record, but Viktor Hovland’s level of consistency is well beyond his years. I expected him to contend a bit more than he has in 2020, but he’s been a cut-making machine.

He’s also proven he can get it done on Sunday with his February win at the Puerto Rico Open.

The 23-year-old Norwegian ironically missed the cut the week after his win, but hasn’t missed a weekend since. I like him to extend his made cuts streak to 12 at the 2020 Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Ironically, again, he did miss the cut here in 2019. It was only by one shot and a Thursday 68 is more of what I expect the second time around. He also MC’d in his first PGA Tour start here in 2018, also by one. He shot 67 on Friday and a week later finished T-13th at the Australian Open.

Hovland comes in well rested with his last start coming four weeks ago at the Houston Open. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy posted four under-par rounds in Big 12 country to finish T-15th.

That amounts to four top-15s in his last five starts and five top-20s in the last seven.

The downside is no finishes higher than T-12th in that span. He’s 174th in final round scoring so far on the young 2020-21 season, so there are some Sunday nerves to get in order.

That will come with experience, and each time Hovland gets to come to a course he’s seen before will be another feather in his cap.

Hovland is a great driver and blends just enough power and accuracy to get the job done. He was 77th in driving distance (299.3) and 54th in driving accuracy (63.24%) in 2019-20. Hovland was 18th in driving distance.

Like everybody at El Camaleon, he’ll have to club down off several tees, but there will be some spots where perhaps he can trust his accuracy to use length to his advantage.

Hovland was seventh in SG approach last season (.633).

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