Mayakoba Classic: Matthew NeSmith

Viktor Hovland heads the betting for the Mayakoba Classic, on the betting exchanges at least but they player i’m interested is ten times the price but with an interesting form line to the Norwegian.

Matthew NeSmith won the Boise Open back in August, beating Hovland back into second but now he is seemingly forgotten by the layers. That is understandable, Hovland has a much higher ceiling and NeSmith appears something of a journeyman but that does the American a disservice.
[bannre:betfair]
NeSmith was a lauded collegiate golfer and although it’s taken him longer to get to the top, he’s come through the PGA Tour Canada and Korn Ferry Tour in back-to-back seasons. This week’s tournament is also a good fit.

Playa del Carmen isn’t long but it rewards excellent (and generally straight) ball-striking; this is a strength of NeSmith’s. Last season he led the Korn Ferry Tour for GIRs, was 20th in driving accuracy and second in ball-striking. It’s early days on the PGA Tour but he’s showing up for similair metrics, 12th for driving accuracy and 27th for GIRs.

Results haven’t been great but he finished an encouraging T18 at the Shriners and has broken 70 in seven out of 12 rounds this season. The real clincher however is that he’s played the Mayakoba Classic before. He missed the cut at this event three years ago but at least he knows the course, something he won’t be able to day most weeks on the PGA Tour. At 300/1 he is a worth a roll of the dice.

Betfair are paying 8 places at 1/5 odds.