The PGA Tour continues its Fall Series in Mexico, moving from Puerto Vallarta to Cabo San Lucas for the 2026 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante. This marks the event’s fourth year at El Cardonal, which replaced its previous venue at Mayakoba. Players will be competing on a course designed by Tiger Woods in 2014, known for its oversized fairways and greens, which are expected to facilitate high scores.
El Cardonal has previously shown to be a venue where birdies abound, with winning scores of -29, -24, and -27 in the past three years. In the 2025 edition, 16 players finished the tournament at 20-under-par or better. As the course remains unchanged from previous years and calm weather is forecasted, fans can anticipate another round of low scoring.
As the field readies for action, Ryan Gerard is projected to be among the favorites after a T4 finish at the Baycurrent Classic in Japan. Other contenders include defending champion Ben Griffin, who has demonstrated proficiency in this event, alongside players like Jackson Koivun and Keith Mitchell. Griffin won the championship last year with a record-setting score of 29 under and aims to defend his title after a strong performance in the previous week’s Mexico Open.
El Cardonal features a par-72 layout stretching 7,452 yards and is designed for casual and competitive play alike. Despite its length, the course’s forgiving nature caters to various playing styles, making it a second-shot course that emphasizes iron play and putting, particularly on paspalum greens, which can create scoring opportunities. Similar venues like TPC Craig Ranch and Vidanta Vallarta are expected to offer insight into the conditions at El Cardonal.
With strong past performances reflected in the leaderboards, golfers who usually excel in easy conditions will likely have an advantage. Among those, players like Matt Kuchar and Austin Eckroat, who have previously won at the event, will draw interest. Recent outcomes suggest that players with records of scoring well at resort courses might shine, emphasizing a blend of strategy and skill.
As the tournament unfolds, attention will be on how well competitors adapt to the unique challenges of El Cardonal while striving for one of the season’s most competitive scores. Official odds will be released shortly, and bettors will be keen to evaluate their picks before the championship starts.
