What was your overall impression of Mayakoba
last year as you experienced it for the first time?
RF: Mayakoba is so beautiful and the people are so
welcoming that you feel extremely good about being
here. The hotels in Mayakoba are stunning. We stayed
at the Rosewood, and we had an unforgettable experi-
ence. Nature is a key piece of the resort; you would see
players riding their bikes to the practice area through
the Nature Trail. We had many options for off-course
activities in and around the nature of Mayakoba. It was
great, such an amazing week.
What was your favorite off-course activity
in Mayakoba?
RF: The food was just amazing. The tournament set up
some special dinners for us to go to with our family and
other players, where the chefs from every hotel went
above and beyond to give us a great experience and a
great variety of authentic Mexican food. Also, we loved
spending time at the beach, the pool and the spa.
What tips would you share with someone who is
playing El Camaleón for the first time?
RF: I would say that the key to playing El Camaleón
well is getting the ball in the fairway off the tee. The
rough is difficult to hit out of, so being in the fairway
gives you a much better opportunity to attack the
flag. Also, be aware of the wind, especially going out
toward the beach. Sometimes you think you’ve hit a
great tee shot, only to watch it sail into the rough or
the mangrove.
You won the Pro-Am last year with Juan-Miguel Villar
Mir, the gentleman responsible for creating Mayakoba
and founding the Mayakoba Golf Classic, giving him
his first Pro-Am win here. Any pressure with defending
the title?
RF: We had a great time playing last year, and it was
fantastic to be the pro who helped get Mr. Villar Mir his
first Pro-Am win here at his tournament. It was a real
privilege playing with him, particularly because of what
he has meant to this tournament and the PGA Tour as
a whole over the years. It would be my pleasure to share
a round of golf with this gentleman again.
What kind of unique atmosphere and vibe do Mayako-
ba and the Mayakoba Golf Classic have?
RF: The fact that most PGA Tour players are staying
on campus makes it a unique experience. It’s great to
be able to interact with the other guys off the course
in the evenings and hang out and spend time together.
Throw in that it is in a five-star luxury resort, full of activ-
ities and great dining options, makes it even better. The
warm hospitality of the Mexican people was unreal; ev-
eryone is so attentive and supportive on and off the golf
course that it makes you feel at home.
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