The fall golf season is in full swing, and the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, is lighting up the PGA Tour calendar with storylines that blend emerging talent, shifting qualification rules, and the lingering excitement of major championship glory. While fans look ahead to the 2026 Masters Tournament—now just over 150 days away—this week’s action at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal course is serving as a proving ground for some of the game’s brightest stars and most consistent performers.
At the top of the marquee in Mexico is U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, who enters as the betting favorite at +1300 according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Spaun’s season has been nothing short of spectacular. Not only did he capture his first major title at Oakmont, but he’s also racked up a series of impressive finishes, including a runner-up at THE PLAYERS Championship and another at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening event of the Playoffs. His consistency has been remarkable, with eight top-25 finishes in his last ten starts, and he’s making his tenth consecutive appearance at this event—a testament to his durability and competitive drive.
Spaun’s recent form bodes well for his chances at El Cardonal, a resort-style course with generous fairways and expansive greens. He last teed it up on TOUR in September at the Procore Championship, where he finished T6, and currently sits fifth in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. As Mike Glasscott noted in his tournament preview, "the faster he gets dialed in with his irons, the quicker he will move up the leaderboard." Spaun’s ability to adapt quickly could make all the difference on a layout designed for aggressive play.
Sharing co-favorite status with Spaun this week is Ryder Cup standout Ben Griffin, also listed at +1300. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season, tallying 11 top-10 finishes—second only to Scottie Scheffler—and making the cut in 23 of 29 events. Griffin’s run of form began with a T8 at the PGA Championship and included a solo second at the Procore Championship. He’s no stranger to El Cardonal, having finished T24 and T23 in his previous two starts, and his comfort on Paspalum grass was evident with a T4 at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld earlier this year. Statistically, Griffin is among the TOUR’s elite, ranking fifth in both SG: Total and Scoring Average.
While Spaun and Griffin command much of the spotlight, the field is loaded with other intriguing contenders. Max Greyserman (+1900) arrives fresh off a solo second at the Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama, Japan, where he posted rounds of 63, 65, and 67. Greyserman has been a model of consistency with five career runner-up finishes on TOUR, and he led the field in multiple putting categories during last year’s World Wide Technology Championship, finishing fourth. A first TOUR victory in his 55th start would be a career-defining moment.
Michael Thorbjornsen (+1900) is another player knocking on the door of his first win. The Stanford grad has a string of T38 or better in his last five starts, including a solo third in Japan and a T13 at the Procore Championship. Thorbjornsen is known for his prodigious length off the tee—he ranks sixth in Driving Distance—and his pinpoint approach play, leading the TOUR in Greens in Regulation. With a win, he’d become the third straight first-time champion at El Cardonal, a trend that’s capturing the imagination of fans and analysts alike.
Garrick Higgo (+2000) might just be the hottest player in the field. The South African left-hander already has a win on Paspalum grass this year at the Corales Puntacana Championship and is riding a wave of three consecutive top-10 finishes. His recent results include T7 at the Procore Championship, a runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and a T4 in Japan. Higgo’s affinity for El Cardonal is clear—he shot a 64 in the final round last year and finished T6. With momentum on his side, he’s a threat to contend deep into the weekend.
Rico Hoey (+2000) has quietly put together a stellar run of his own. The Filipino-American has three top-10s in his last four starts, including a T4 at the Baycurrent Classic and a solo second at the Bank of Utah Championship. Hoey’s improved putting, thanks to a new broomstick putter, is complementing his already impressive ball-striking. "A new broomstick putter is paying off his ferocious ball-striking," wrote Glasscott, highlighting the subtle equipment change that’s sparked Hoey’s late-season surge.
Other notables include Si Woo Kim (+2000), who has rebounded from a missed cut to close the 2025 regular season with five straight finishes of T21 or better, Kevin Yu (+2500), sitting 16th in Birdie Average and 20th in SG: Tee to Green, and Michael Brennan (+2700), who won the Bank of Utah Championship in his first start as a professional. Brennan’s prodigious driving—he gained nearly eight shots on the field off the tee at Black Desert Resort—makes him an intriguing dark horse in Mexico.
Defending champion Austin Eckroat (+5000) returns for his second title defense on TOUR, while 2023 winner Erik van Rooyen (+7000) is also in the field. The depth of talent this week is reflected in the odds, with players like Thorbjørn Olesen, Nico Echavarria (+2700), Pierceson Coody (+3000), and veterans Matt Kuchar (+4500) and Beau Hossler (+5000) all looking to make their mark on the Baja Peninsula.
This week’s tournament unfolds against the backdrop of significant changes to the Masters qualification process. Augusta National and the R&A recently announced that winners of several national opens—including the Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open, Hong Kong Open, Australian Open, and South African Open—will now receive automatic invitations to the 2026 Masters and Open Championship. This move, aimed at enhancing international representation, was praised by Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club: "The Masters Tournament has long recognized the significance of having international representation among its invitees... Today’s announcement strengthens our organizations’ collective vision of rewarding top talent around the world who rise to the top of historic national open championships."
As of November 3, 2025, 88 players have already qualified for the 2026 Masters, with 72 likely to tee it up. Notable names include Keegan Bradley, J.J. Spaun, Ben Griffin, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, and a host of past champions. The Masters field is now shaped by a blend of traditional categories—past champions, recent major winners, leading amateurs, and top-ranked players—alongside these new international pathways. For up-and-comers like Tom McKibbin, who earned his invite by winning the Hong Kong Open, the road to Augusta has never been more open or more global.
With the World Wide Technology Championship underway and the Masters field slowly taking shape, golf fans have plenty to watch and debate. Will Spaun’s major-winning form carry him to another trophy in Mexico? Can Griffin or Greyserman break through? Or will a new face rise up and claim the spotlight at El Cardonal? As the action unfolds, one thing’s certain: the road to Augusta is paved with opportunity, and every shot counts.
