Power Rankings: Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun

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If there's any consolation to the field of 132 that didn't qualify for the Match Play, it's a trip to the Riviera Maya in February for the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

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Host since the inaugural edition in 2007, El Camaleon Golf Club just might lead the TOUR's host venues in geographical features. The cenote in the middle of the first fairway is the landmark, but the track also routes through a jungle, mangroves and the beach. It's a visually stunning sculpture designed by Greg Norman.

You might also see is a dinosaur or two ... on the leaderboard, that is. El Camaleon is a grinder's paradise. Length off the tee is irrelevant. Veteran ball-strikers that hit greens with regulation are rewarded, as are aggressive putters with the Stimpmeter checking in at 10-10.5.

A par 70 for its first three years, the host track played as a par 71 in 2010 after the eighth hole was converted into a par 5. Despite the switch, scoring (70.765) was up just 0.123 strokes over the aggregate in 2009.

Seasonal weather is on tap. Partly cloudy skies are matched with high temperatures in the lower 80s. While a threat of rain enters the fray on Sunday, the primary challenge, as it always is at this event, is wind. Steady breezes from 10-15 mph will be regular.

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Power Rankings: Mayakoba Golf Classic

Rank Player   Comment J.J. HENRY Closed out his first top 10 of the year at last week's Northern Trust Open (T9) with a 66 at Riviera. Ranks 63rd in greens hit, 49th in putting and 35th in the all-around ranking. Runner-up at the 2009 Mayakoba. Spencer LEVIN Continues to tease leaderboards. Chased a T4 at Pebble Beach with a T12 at Riviera. Ranks 41st on the PGA TOUR in greens, 44th in putting and 20th in birdie average. Placed T28 at last year's Mayakoba. Brian GAY The 2008 champ started this season with three top 20s before missing the cut at Pebble Beach. Currently leads the TOUR in fairways hit and sits fifth in putting, second in birdie average and sixth in the all-around. Aaron BADDELEY First-timer. Only man in the 60s in all four rounds en route to victory at the Northern Trust Open, where he ranked third in greens hit. Overall, he's 11th on TOUR in GIR and seventh in adjusted scoring average. Cameron BECKMAN The defending champion has cashed in all four starts here, including a solo seventh in 2007. Ranked third in putting here last year, and suffered just four bogeys all week. Currently 10th on TOUR in putting. Jhonattan VEGAS Posted a 66 at Riviera on Sunday to finish T12 at the Northern Trust Open and earn his third six-figure payday in four starts. Ranks 16th in greens hit, third in adjusted scoring average and seventh in the all-around ranking. Zack MILLER Conventional wisdom eliminates most rookies at El Camaleon, but he has touch around the greens beyond his 26 years of age. Ranks 37th in putting and 26th in the all-around. Already has three top 25s in five starts. Boo WEEKLEY His only noteworthy finish in two starts here is a solo sixth in 2007, but he could dissect El Camaleon with a hot putter. He leads the TOUR in ball-striking and ranks eighth in the all-around ranking. Joe DURANT Sat alone atop the leaderboard after each of the first three rounds last year before settling for a share of second place. Ranks second all-time in earnings among all non-winners here. Notorious ball-striker. Charles HOWELL III This is one player who always looks better on paper than his results have shown here (T38, 2009; T20, 2010). Currently 28th on TOUR in greens, 60th in putting and 36th in adjusted scoring average.