The rising star of Harold Varner III continues to shine.
By Herschel Caldwell
The winning score on Sunday, November 11, 2018, at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico was 262, turned in by PGA Tour veteran and Ryder Cup member Matt Kuchar. Kuchar’s 22 under par performance was good enough for a one-stroke victory over Danny Lee and a check for $1,296,000.
Five shots back at 17 under par was Varner, this spread of strokes may seem a lot to the casual fan of golf but when you consider the possibilities of different scores over 262 vs. 267 attempts one realizes the razor-thin margin between taking home the winner’s check and a tie for sixth place on a world-class golf course.
One additional putt made per round of the four-day tournament was the difference between taking home the trophy and the winner’s check on Sunday, it also highlights the minuscule difference between the current group of professional golfers who competes weekly on the PGA Tour.
Designed by legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman and inaugurated in 2006, El Camaleón Golf Course made golf history in 2007 when it became the home of the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the first PGA TOUR event to be contested outside the US and Canada. Like the chameleon, from which it takes its name, the course offers constantly changing views as it winds through three diverse ecosystems: the tropical Mayan jungle, mangrove wetlands, and the Mexican Caribbean Sea coastline. Distinctive hazards such as cenotes (sink holes), massive bunkers and crystal-clear freshwater canals are unique features of El Camaleón, certified by Audubon International for its commitment to the environment.
Varner’s carded a brilliant six under par round with seven birdies and one bogey on Sunday proving he knows how to play on “Sunday.” Given his performance in the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the prediction made by Minority Golf Magazine for Harold Varner III for 2019 is on target. This man can play.
