Field Level Media’s Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.
LAST WEEK: The Genesis Invitational (Adam Scott)
THIS WEEK: WGC-Mexico Championship, Feb. 20-23 Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico (Par 71, 7,345 yards) Purse: $10.5 million (Winner: $1.82 million) Defending Champion: Dustin Johnson FedEx Cup leader: Justin Thomas TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday, 12-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-7 p.m. (NBC)
NOTES: This is a no-cut event. … Mexico’s first representative in the Presidents Cup, Abraham Ancer enters this week ranked No. 29 in the world. He was No. 260 entering the event two years ago and No. 61 in 2019. … The lowest elevation of the golf course is 7,603 feet above sea level, with the highest being 7,835 feet. … World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is attempting to join Johnson as the only players to win all four WGC titles in a career, dubbed the “WGC Slam.” … Johnson is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend at the event since Tiger Woods from 2005-07. … The field includes 42 of the top 50 players in the world rankings. … Jordan Spieth earned a last spot in the field by rising to No. 49 in the rankings following a tie for ninth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. BEST BETS: McIlroy (+600 at DraftKings) faded on Sunday at Riviera but finished second in this event last year and has four consecutive top-5 finishes to begin the year. … Johnson (+800) is a two-time event winner and has posted 11 consecutive rounds in the 60s at Club de Golf Chapultepec. … Thomas (+1000) has posted top-10s in each of his past three starts in the event and has twice posted 62s at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. … Scott (+1800) has won his past two starts, and he won the event that is now the WGC-Mexico Championship in 2016, when it was played at Doral in Florida. … Xander Schauffele (+2000) has six top-20 finishes in 10 career WGC starts.
THIS WEEK: Puerto Rico Open, Feb. 20-23 Coco Beach Golf & CC; Championship course, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Par 72, 7,506 yards) Purse: $3 million (Winner: $540,000) Defending Champion: Martin Trainer TV: Thursday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET; Saturday, 2:30-5 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30-4:30 p.m. (All on Golf Channel)
NOTES: This is the second alternate-field event of the season, featuring 120 players. … Trainer’s win was his lone top-10 finish last season and the first of his PGA Tour career. … No. 51 Ian Poulter of England is the highest-ranked player in the field. … Sixteen of the 21 rookies on Tour are in the field. … Of the 44 PGA Tour winners in the field, Bill Haas (6) has the most, followed by Jonathan Byrd (5).
NEXT WEEK: The Honda Classic, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
LAST WEEK: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open (Inbee Park) THIS WEEK: OFF. NEXT TOURNAMENT: Volvik Founders Cup, Phoenix, March 19-22
LAST WEEK: Chubb Classic (Scott Parel) THIS WEEK: OFF. NEXT TOURNAMENT: Cologuard Classic, Tucson, Ariz., Feb 28-March 1
–Derek Harper (DerekAHarper), Field Level Media
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