Paulie’s Picks: 2025 World Wide Technology Championship

The PGA Tour returns this week with a trip to Mexico for the World Wide Technology Championship. Once again, the event is being held at the El Cardonal course at Diamante, designed by Tiger Woods. The course has a resort feel as it features the largest fairways on Tour and some of the largest greens, as well. Unless the wind really picks up, there won’t be many bogeys made this week.

The course does appear long on the scorecard, but driver can be used on nearly every tee shot. El Cardonal has the highest fairway hit percentage and green in regulation percentage of any course on Tour, so essentially this week will be an iron and putting contest. For me, the value this week lies in players who normally are erratic off the tee but can be solid with irons and the putter. Let’s take a look at two such longshot players to bet on this week:

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Nick Dunlap: Top 20, +1000

No, this is not a misprint. Nick Dunlap has endured one of the worst driving seasons ever (statistically speaking). He has lost 1.47 strokes per round off the tee, ranking last by a sizeable margin. He hits the ball slightly above average distance-wise off the tee, so inaccuracy is his problem. Over the course of four rounds, he is basically spotting the field six shots. However, the rest of his game is very solid, ranking above average in the other three main Strokes Gained metrics (approach, around the green, and putting). Let’s not forget he is on the shortlist of players who have won multiple times on Tour in the last two years. He has upside and knows how to handle pressure when he is in contention. With him being a highly volatile player, I’m more than happy to back his upside at 10/1 for a top-20 finish in this 120-player field.

Frankie Capan: Top 20, +1200

Frankie Capan ranks just one spot ahead of Dunlap in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. He really struggles with accuracy with his driver. However, he is one of the best putters on Tour, which can lead him to strong finishes whenever he can keep the ball in play. He has made the cut in his last two events at Black Desert in Utah and the Sanderson Farms, even with bad driving. He finished sixth at the Sanderson Farms after leading the field in putting. At 12/1 odds for a top-20 finish, I’m willing to take a chance that Capan can keep it in play enough to allow his short game to flourish and give us a chance to hit a winner.