Each week of the season, our experts share their insights into which players fit the criteria for our four categories: Horse for the Course (a golfer who knows the track inside and out), Birdie Buster (a guy who could take it low), Super Sleeper (a player who could unexpectedly contend) and Winner.
This week, the PGA Tour heads to Playa de Carmen, Mexico, for the HL Classic at Mayakoba.
Horse for the Course
Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Harris English
Last year at Mayakoba, the lanky Georgian had rounds of 68-62-68-65 for a 21-under total to take his second career PGA Tour title. The El Camaleon Golf Club plays to his strengths of excellent ball-striking and long drives.
Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Chris Stroud
He loves Mayakoba. Not only has he failed to miss the tournament in its eight previous editions, he won the tournament in 2010, finished in the top 15 three other times and has never missed the cut.
Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor: Robert Allenby
The Aussie, whose winless drought dates back to 2001, has played Mayakoba twice and posted a T-16 last year and a second-place finish in 2012. With a top-10 already in four starts this season, a strong run this week isn't out of the question.
Birdie Buster
Evans: Robert Streb
The 27-year-old Kansas State grad has had a win, a tie for 10th and an eighth-place finish in his last three starts. He is the hottest player on tour and at the top of the FedEx Cup standings.
Harig: Robert Streb
The early leader in the FedEx Cup standings has a victory at the McGladrey Classic and two other top-10 finishes coming into the OHL Classic.
Maguire: Will MacKenzie
The much-improved MacKenzie lost in a playoff a few weeks ago at the McGladrey Classic, but playing back in North America (after a T-52 at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia) should help him get back on track.
Super Sleeper
Evans: Spencer Levin
In the 2011 OHL Classic at Mayakoba, the 30-year-old Sacramento native lost in a playoff to Johnson Wagner. In Levin's first two events of the wraparound season, he has had a tie for 21st and a tie for 10th.
Harig: Billy Hurley III
It only seems fitting that a week that begins with Veterans Day ends with a former military man winning a golf tournament, right? Hurley graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent five years as a naval officer. He's also coming off a tie for eighth in his last start in Malaysia.
Maguire: Erik Compton
The former Georgia Bulldog's lone Web.com Tour victory came at the 2011 Mexico Open, so heading back south of the border has to bring back at least a few good vibes, no? The trip home, when he lost his wallet, not so much.
Winner
Evans: Jason Bohn
The Alabama graduate is not a fantasy golf favorite, but after a tie for second last week in Mississippi, his prospects are looking very bright this week to take his third career PGA Tour title. Last year in Mexico, he finished in a tie for third.
Harig: Charles Howell III
Perhaps the game's most prolific money winner with the least victories, Howell is at another place he likes where he has four top-20 finishes. He also has two top-20s to start the new season.
Maguire: Justin Thomas
Unless you're an ardent college golf-watcher, Thomas -- from powerhouse Alabama -- might not be on the top of many fans' radars. The PGA Tour rookie is coming off his career-best finish last week at the Sanderson Farms Championship, so watch out for that end-of-the-calendar-year victory.
