Leading Confirmed Players
Ben Griffin, Ryan Gerard, Jackson Koivun, Tony Finau, Billy Horschel, Keith Mitchell and Denny McCarthy headline the named field.
Field confirmed
2026 World Wide Technology Championship Fantasy Golf Grades
The 2026 World Wide Technology Championship is complete at El Cardonal at Diamante. The official 36-hole cut fell at 5 under, with 75 players advancing to the weekend.
This review grades the original tournament-week calls exactly as they appeared before the event: the Top 15, first five out, four value plays, four risk flags and the CB Caddie Hunch. The earlier form and course-fit boards remain below as the record behind those decisions.
Final page grade: C+. The board made the weekend at a strong rate and identified several solid finishers, but it left three Top-8 players outside the main Top 15.
What Matters for World Wide Technology Championship Fantasy Picks
1. Controlled Power
Wide fairways invite aggressive driving, but the best profiles still preserve approach angles and avoid traditional bunkers, uneven contours and poor positions.
Distance
Position
2. Par-5 and Scoring-Hole Production
Contenders must convert the reachable opportunities and build enough birdie volume to keep pace in a resort-course scoring race.
GIR
Approach control
3. Approach Angles and Wedge Control
Low scoring demands repeated chances from wedges and short irons. Players who control distance from varied lies and use El Cardonal's broad landing areas to create clean angles gain a clear advantage.
Distance control
Adaptability
4. Recovery and Birdie Conversion
Traditional bunkers, rolling surrounds and missed scoring chances can quickly stall a round. Strong scrambling and confident putting protect momentum and convert the available birdies.
Scrambling
Putting
World Wide Technology Championship Current Field Watch
The current field contains 116 named entrants and four open-qualifier positions. The groups below identify the leading names, proven El Cardonal performers, recent movers and late field changes.
Proven El Cardonal Performers
Griffin, Sami Valimaki, Garrick Higgo, Chad Ramey, Austin Eckroat, Erik van Rooyen, Patrick Rodgers and Max Greyserman carry the strongest recent course history.
Course history
Recent Mexico Movers
Steven Fisk, Kristoffer Ventura, Mackenzie Hughes, Griffin, Pierceson Coody and van Rooyen all arrive from top-six finishes at VidantaWorld.
Current form
Qualifiers and Replacements
Four Monday qualifiers remain to be named. Ben Martin, Paul Peterson and Tyler Duncan replaced Dan Brown, Mac Meissner and Keita Nakajima.
Late field movement
World Wide Technology Championship Recent-Form Top 20
The current-field Top 20 below reflects the strongest immediate results entering the second straight PGA TOUR week in Mexico.
| Form Rank | Player | Recent High Finish | Los Cabos Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steven Fisk | T2, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Closed with 63; immediate scoring form |
| 2 | Kristoffer Ventura | T2, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Final-round 63 and a strong Mexico transition |
| 3 | Ben Griffin | T4, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Defending champion arrives sharp |
| 4 | Mackenzie Hughes | T4, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Putting and recovery trending upward |
| 5 | Pierceson Coody | T6, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Power and birdie production remain live |
| 6 | Erik van Rooyen | T6, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Returns to a course where he has won |
| 7 | Max Greyserman | T11, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Recent form plus a fourth here in 2024 |
| 8 | Kensei Hirata | T11, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Steady scoring profile carries forward |
| 9 | Matthieu Pavon | T11, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Iron play keeps him on the contender line |
| 10 | Ben James | T16, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | High-ceiling young player in a birdie test |
| 11 | Neal Shipley | T16, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Strong closing-week momentum |
| 12 | Jordan Smith | T16, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Approach control fits the wide setup |
| 13 | Christiaan Bezuidenhout | T19, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Balanced game offers a stable floor |
| 14 | Blades Brown | T19, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Fearless scoring remains the attraction |
| 15 | Harry Hall | T23, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Elite putting can separate in a shootout |
| 16 | Denny McCarthy | T23, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Conversion strength suits low scoring |
| 17 | Chandler Phillips | T23, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Four-round scoring remained steady |
| 18 | Karl Vilips | T23, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Opening-round ceiling keeps him relevant |
| 19 | Vince Whaley | T23, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Solid recent support without overreach |
| 20 | Luke Clanton | T29, VidantaWorld Mexico Open | Aggressive profile remains a fit |
First Five Outside the Recent-Form Top 20
| Player | Current Support | Why He Remains Close |
|---|---|---|
| Garrick Higgo | T29 last week; elite El Cardonal record | Back-to-back top-six finishes here |
| Haotong Li | T29 last week | Birdie-making ceiling keeps him close |
| Max McGreevy | T29 last week | Controlled scoring profile fits the setup |
| Jesper Svensson | T29 last week | Distance and approach upside |
| Joel Dahmen | T34 last week | Comfort in Mexico and a reliable floor |
World Wide Technology Championship El Cardonal Course-Stat Top 20
The final course-fit board favors complete scoring profiles, proven El Cardonal comfort and players arriving with current form.
| Re-Rank | Player | GIR / Approach | Driving | Recovery | Putting | El Cardonal Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Griffin | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Defending champion with current form |
| 2 | Ryan Gerard | Strong | Elite | Solid | Strong | Powerful, complete scoring profile |
| 3 | Sami Valimaki | Strong | Strong | Solid | Strong | Runner-up here in 2025 |
| 4 | Garrick Higgo | Strong | Elite | Solid | Strong | Back-to-back top-six finishes here |
| 5 | Erik van Rooyen | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | 2023 champion arriving from a top six |
| 6 | Max Greyserman | Strong | Strong | Solid | Elite | Fourth here in 2024 and sharp last week |
| 7 | Steven Fisk | Strong | Strong | Solid | Strong | Immediate scoring form after a T2 |
| 8 | Mackenzie Hughes | Solid | Solid | Elite | Elite | Short-game strength with current momentum |
| 9 | Pierceson Coody | Strong | Elite | Solid | Solid | Attacking profile suits the par 5s |
| 10 | Jackson Koivun | Strong | Strong | Solid | Strong | High ceiling for a low-scoring test |
| 11 | Kristoffer Ventura | Strong | Strong | Solid | Strong | Final-round 63 keeps the arrow up |
| 12 | Harry Hall | Solid | Strong | Elite | Elite | Conversion strength raises his shootout ceiling |
| 13 | Austin Eckroat | Strong | Strong | Solid | Solid | 2024 champion with proven course comfort |
| 14 | Patrick Rodgers | Strong | Strong | Solid | Strong | T6 here in 2025 |
| 15 | Joe Highsmith | Strong | Strong | Strong | Solid | Fifth here in 2024 |
| 16 | Rasmus Højgaard | Strong | Elite | Solid | Solid | Power and iron ceiling fit the layout |
| 17 | Keith Mitchell | Strong | Elite | Solid | Solid | Driver-led scoring potential |
| 18 | Ben James | Strong | Strong | Solid | Strong | Young scorer arrives from a top 20 |
| 19 | Matt Kuchar | Strong | Solid | Strong | Strong | Course history and control support the fit |
| 20 | Chad Ramey | Strong | Solid | Solid | Strong | Runner-up here in 2025 |
Back to the Wall: FedExCup Fall Status Pressure
These current-field players carry the clearest mix of Fall opportunity, recent momentum and meaningful status movement into Los Cabos.
Top 100 Full-Status Race
The main pressure line for players attempting to secure exempt status for the following PGA TOUR season.
Nos. 101-125 Conditional Race
Players outside the full-status line still have meaningful access and priority positions to protect or improve.
Aon Next 10 Chase
Players moving into the leading fall positions can earn valuable early-season Signature Event opportunities.
Win Changes Everything
A fall victory delivers 500 FedExCup points and a multi-season winner's exemption.
| Fall Position | Player | Recent Heat | Status Pressure | Los Cabos Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aon Next 10 | Keith Mitchell | Strong season position | Protect and improve | Driver gives him a high ceiling |
| Aon Next 10 | Steven Fisk | T2 last week | Build early-season access | One of the hottest players in the field |
| Aon Next 10 | Pierceson Coody | T6 last week | Build early-season access | Power matches the scoring test |
| Aon Next 10 | Harry Hall | Solid Mexico finish | Protect and improve | Putting can drive a major move |
| Top 100 chase | Kristoffer Ventura | T2 last week | Full-status push | Momentum arrives at the right time |
| Top 100 chase | Mackenzie Hughes | T4 last week | Full-status push | Recovery and putting travel well |
| Top 100 chase | Erik van Rooyen | T6 last week | Full-status push | Returns to a course where he has won |
| Status line | Vince Whaley | T23 last week | Secure stronger priority | Steady form keeps him in play |
| Status line | Chandler Phillips | T23 last week | Secure stronger priority | Four-round scoring is trending well |
| Status line | Max McGreevy | T29 last week | Make a points move | Balanced profile offers a path upward |
Open the CaddyBytes FedExCup Fall Watch page for standings and status-line movement.
Up and Down for the Money
Recovery play is an extra separator at El Cardonal. These players either gain support through dependable saves and conversion or carry a clear short-game question into the week.
| Player | Up-and-Down Read | Fantasy Effect | El Cardonal Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie Hughes | Major strength | Moves up | Can protect scoring runs around the greens |
| Harry Hall | Major strength | Moves up | Putting and touch can erase loose approaches |
| Ben Griffin | Complete profile | Top-tier support | Few obvious weak links for this setup |
| Denny McCarthy | Conversion strength | Moves up | Can turn average proximity into birdies |
| Ryan Gerard | Reliable enough | Holds position | Power is backed by a balanced game |
| Erik van Rooyen | Course-proven | Holds position | Past success supports the complete read |
| Tony Finau | Needs a cleaner week | Limits the ceiling | Scoring chances must outweigh missed saves |
| Nick Dunlap | Volatile | Raises the range | Ceiling is real, but round-saving consistency matters |
Original CaddyBytes Top 15 — Final Results and Grades
All 15 players are listed in their original pre-tournament order. Twelve made the cut, three missed, and five finished T21 or better.
| Original Rank | Player | Cut Result | Final Result | Grade | Final Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Griffin | Made cut (−7) | T12 / −17 | B | Strong finish, but the No. 1 win candidate never seriously threatened the playoff. |
| 2 | Ryan Gerard | Made cut (−10) | T8 / −18 | A− | Best result on the main board and a clear Top-10 hit. |
| 3 | Steven Fisk | Made cut (−6) | T42 / −12 | C− | Reached the weekend but did not carry his incoming form into contention. |
| 4 | Sami Välimäki | Missed cut (−1) | MC | F | A course-history pick that failed to reach the weekend. |
| 5 | Garrick Higgo | Missed cut (−4) | MC by 1 | F | Missed by one, but a Top-5 ranking still has to be graded as a clear miss. |
| 6 | Mackenzie Hughes | Missed cut (+1) | MC | F | The recent-form and short-game case did not translate at El Cardonal. |
| 7 | Erik van Rooyen | Made cut (−6) | T54 / −10 | D | Made the cut, but the past champion and Caddie Hunch finished near the bottom of the weekend field. |
| 8 | Max Greyserman | Made cut (−6) | T42 / −12 | C− | Advanced, then produced only a middle-to-lower weekend finish. |
| 9 | Pierceson Coody | Made cut (−6) | T33 / −13 | C | A respectable made cut without the projected scoring surge. |
| 10 | Kristoffer Ventura | Made cut (−5) | T50 / −11 | D+ | Made it on the number but never became a weekend factor. |
| 11 | Austin Eckroat | Made cut (−10) | T21 / −15 | B− | A solid Top-25 finish from the former champion, though short of contention. |
| 12 | Jackson Koivun | Made cut (−7) | T21 / −15 | B | A useful Top-25 result that supported the young-upside call. |
| 13 | Harry Hall | Made cut (−8) | T12 / −17 | A− | One of the best main-board calls and tied Griffin for the second-best pick finish. |
| 14 | Patrick Rodgers | Made cut (−5) | T65 / −7 | D− | Made it on the number but finished near the bottom of the weekend field. |
| 15 | Rasmus Højgaard | Made cut (−5) | T56 / −9 | D | The power-and-irons profile did not produce a meaningful weekend move. |
Original Top 15 grade: C+.
The 12-for-15 cut rate was good, but only three picks finished T12 or better and three of the first six selections missed the cut.
First Five Out — Decision Audit
These players were part of the original published board but were kept outside the main Top 15. Their grades evaluate that ranking decision, not the quality of the players' performances.
| Original Call | Player | Cut Result | Final Result | Decision Grade | Final Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First five out | Chad Ramey | Made cut (−8) | T25 / −14 | C | Outperformed most of the main board, but staying just outside the Top 15 was defensible. |
| First five out | Keith Mitchell | Made cut (−10) | T8 / −18 | F | A Top-10 finisher who clearly belonged inside the main board. |
| First five out | Ben James | Made cut (−15) | P2 / −23 | F | The largest miss: James held the 54-hole lead and lost only in a playoff. |
| First five out | Kensei Hirata | Made cut (−10) | 4 / −21 | F | A fourth-place finish made his exclusion from the Top 15 a major miss. |
| First five out | Matt Kuchar | Missed cut (+1) | MC | A | Keeping Kuchar outside the main board was correct. |
First-five-out decision grade: D.
James, Hirata and Mitchell all finished inside the Top 8, including the playoff runner-up and fourth-place finisher.
El Cardonal Course-Fit Lanes
El Cardonal's resort-course profile creates four primary player lanes for the championship.
Complete Fits
Players combining useful distance, approach control, recovery and putting will receive the highest four-round floor.
BalanceHigh floor
Power and Par-5 Fits
Long hitters can create shorter approaches and attack the par 5s, but the strongest profiles pair distance with enough control to avoid bunkers and poor approach angles.
DistanceAccuracy
Approach, GIR and Wedge Fits
Strong iron and wedge control can create repeated birdie chances while limiting difficult bunker, contour and green-surround recoveries.
Iron playGIR
Recovery and Putting Fits
Strong saves and confident conversion can stabilize players when missed approaches, bunkers or sloping green surrounds interrupt a scoring run.
ScramblingPutting
Original Value Plays and Sleepers — Final Grades
Chad Ramey — B+
Made cut at 8 under; finished T25 at 14 under. The course-history value call produced a solid four-round result.
T25Value hit
Kensei Hirata — A+
Made cut at 10 under; finished fourth at 21 under. This was the strongest value call on the page and also exposed a miss in leaving him outside the Top 15.
4th placeBest value call
Matt Kuchar — F
Missed the cut at 1 over. The course-history value case failed to produce a weekend appearance.
Missed cut
Joe Highsmith — F
Missed the cut at 3 under. He finished two shots outside the 5-under weekend line.
Missed cut
Value-board grade: C+.
Hirata's fourth and Ramey's T25 were meaningful hits, but the other two value plays missed the cut.
Original Risk Flags — Final Grades
Risk calls are graded on whether the original warning proved useful, so a poor player result produces a stronger call grade.
Tony Finau — B+
Made cut at 6 under; finished T33 at 13 under. He improved on Sunday but never challenged the leaders, supporting the decision to keep him outside the Top 15.
Nick Dunlap — A
Made cut on the number; finished T42. His opening 64 was followed by a 75, exactly validating the round-to-round volatility warning.
Austin Eckroat — C
Made cut at 10 under; finished T21 at 15 under. The warning was only partly right because Eckroat still produced a useful Top-25 finish.
Billy Horschel — A+
Missed the cut at 2 under. He finished three shots outside the weekend line, fully validating the birdie-pace concern.
Risk-board grade: A−.
Horschel missed, Dunlap's volatility showed clearly and Finau finished only T33; Eckroat's T21 was the one result that beat the warning.
CB Caddie Hunch Final Grade: Erik van Rooyen — D
Van Rooyen made the cut at 6 under after opening with consecutive rounds of 69, but he finished T54 at 10 under. The past-champion and recent-form case did not produce a competitive weekend result.
Original fantasy position: No. 7 in the CaddyBytes Top 15. Final result: T54. Grade: D.
World Wide Technology Championship Fantasy Update Schedule
| Update | What Changes | Page Status |
|---|---|---|
| Current field and player board | Event details, course profile, 116 named entrants, recent form, course fit, value plays and final Top 15. | Complete. |
| Field launch | Confirmed commitments, notable players, invitations, replacements and qualifier watch. | Complete. |
| Monday qualifier update | Add the four open qualifiers and reflect any late field movement. | Complete. |
| Wednesday final check | Final field, withdrawals, tee times, weather and any last Top 15 adjustment. | Complete. |
| 36-hole update | Original picks checked against the cut line, halfway leaderboard and weekend outlook. | Complete. |
| 54-hole update | Sunday contenders, movers and original-board performance. | Complete. |
| Post-event grades | Final outcomes for the original Top 15, value plays, risk flags and hunch. | Complete — November 9, 2026. |
Fantasy note: These rankings are for CaddyBytes fantasy lineup research and tournament coverage.