Goodbye Miami, well found Mexico City: the first golf world championship this year goes beyond ideological walls and moves from the Florida capital to the Mexican capital. The gesture almost takes on a symbolic value, given that the course where this race was played was Trump Doral, on the Blue Monster track, one of the most beautiful courses on the planet, owned by the new president of the United States. Today, however, the starting tee is at Club de Golf Chapultepec, on the other side of the gulf. The divorce between the tycoon and one of the most important golf competitions in the "championship" took place before the US presidential elections. The reason is that the sponsor Cadillac has not renewed the contract and the PGA has found a new lender in Grupo Salinas which, obviously, has transferred the event to one of its resorts. "Let's hope they have kidnapping insurance," the tycoon commented hotly. Jokes aside, from today to Sunday, golf enthusiasts will be able to follow the big names in this unprecedented context, as the season gets underway, rapidly approaching the first major, the Masters, at the beginning of April.
The race is part of a mini circuit of four events, common to all tours, and is one of the most important on the international calendar. Only the best players in the world can participate in the challenge, in this case there are 77, and it is played without cutting after 36 holes. Among the stars of the circuit there is also the blue Francesco Molinari who, after his victory at the Italian Open, continued to garner excellent placements on the US circuit, including 14th place last week in Palm Beach.
Dustin Johnson is also back on the field, in his first test since becoming number one in the world; behind him a large group of very strong pursuers. In the foreground we find the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, returning from a long period of rest for the fracture of a rib and from many controversies for having recently played with Donald Trump. Following the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, currently number one of Fedex, the Swede Henrik Stenson, the American Jordan Spieth. However, world number two, Australian Jason Day, still out of shape after a break due to injury, missed the event. Other possible protagonists are the Australian Adam Scott, defending champion, the American Richie Fowler, boosted by success in the Honda Classic, the Spaniard Sergio Garcia, the Americans Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson and the English Justin Rose and Danny Willett. Stellar prize pool of $9,750 million.
