Week 8 Approach Shots: Mayakoba Golf Classic

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THE FIRST DEFENSE: Brian Gay, who won his first PGA TOUR title at the 2008 Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya, defends his title this week. Gay, who had a career year last season, picked up where he left off a year ago. Already this season, Gay has two top-10 finishes -- a tie for fifth at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a tie for sixth at the FBR Open. Gay is currently 19th in the FedExCup standings.

Quick Facts

WHAT: Ninth of 37 regular-season PGA TOUR events WHEN: Feb. 26-March 1 WHERE: Playa del Carmen, Mexico COURSE: El Camaleon Golf Club TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Thursday-Saturday on GOLF CHANNEL; 7 p.m. Sunday on GOLF CHANNEL WHAT'S AT STAKE: $3,500,000 purse ($630,000 for winner) FEDEXCUP POINTS: 250 for winner KEY LINKS: Tee times | Leaderboard Tournament page

Last year, Gay's victory was his first on the PGA TOUR after 293 starts as a professional. Jay Delsing (555 starts) has the most starts among active PGA TOUR players without a victory.

Gay led the field with 23 birdies a year ago, en route to victory. His third-round 62 was his career low on the PGA TOUR, giving him a five-stroke lead heading into the final round. He went on to win by two strokes.

Gay was one of four players who posted four rounds in the 60s last year. The others were Steve Marino (second), Matt Kuchar and John Merrick (tied for third). In 2007, five players had four sub-70 rounds -- Jose Coceres, Peter Lonard, Ryan Armour, Alejandro Canizares and Parker McLachlin.

El Camaleon Golf Club, designed by 2009 Presidents Cup International Captain Greg Norman, was ranked No. 14 among most-difficult courses on the PGA TOUR in 2008. The par-70 course had a scoring average of 71.00. The par-4 third (462 yards) was ranked 22nd on the toughest holes on the PGA TOUR list (4.385).

PLAYER NOTES: Roland Thatcher set the El Camaleon Golf Club at Mayakoba course record last year with a 9-under-par 61 in the third round en route to a tie for ninth.

Fred Funk, the 2007 Mayakoba Golf Classic champion, rebounded from a first-round 73 to make the cut and tie for 63rd. In 2007, Funk became the fifth-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history when he won the Mayakoba Golf Classic at the age of 50 years, 8 months, 11 days.

Last year, Mexico native Esteban Toledo just missed recording his first top 10 since a tie for ninth at the 2003 Bank of America Colonial when he came in 11th at El Camaleon GC.

In two starts at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, Steve Marino has two top 10s (eighth in 2007 and second in 2008) and has eight rounds in the 60s, with a stroke average of 67.25.

Weather forecast for Mayakoba Golf Classic

THURSDAY, Rd. 1 FRIDAY, Rd. 2 SATURDAY, Rd. 3 SUNDAY, Rd. 4 Partly cloudy Temp: 83 high/63 low Partly cloudy Temp: 84 high/63 low Partly cloudy Temp: 84 high/64 low Scattered showers Temp: 84 high/62 low

DTN/Meteorlogix is the official weather provider of the PGA TOUR. For more information, click here

Mayakoba Golf Classic snippets

Golf giving back: Golf PARa Todos is a community program presented and created by the Mayakoba Golf Classic. The program encourages active participation in the game as a participant and as a fan, and facilitates the integration of golf into the lives of all those within the community. Comeback player '09?: The 2001 PGA Championship winner has enjoyed a career resurgence in 2009, with two top 10s including a tie for second at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He's eleventh in FedExCup standings through six events. Captain on the course: 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin will be making his second appearance at the Mayakoba Golf Classic (he tied for 12th in 2008). Pavin is a 15-time winner on the PGA TOUR. Bienvenido a Mexico: Four-time PGA TOUR winner and 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team member Chad Campbell will be making his first appearance at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya.