It is the last day of school, so to speak, as the PGA Tour’s new 2013-14 wrap-around schedule takes a winter hiatus before resumption at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in beautiful Hawaii.

But this week, another tropical destination will get tested by the pros in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Cancun, Mexico.

Last week, Chris Kirk earned his second career victory at The McGladrey Classic and will tee it up again, this new test being the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon Golf Club.

“The Chameleon” is a hybrid of three different courses, displaying jungles, mangroves and sandy oceanfront on its pristine tour of the Riviera Maya.

Now is the last chance to build a fantasy points cushion before the meaty schedule hits next year. So, let’s go on an archaeological tour of Mexico and discover the hidden temples, buried kings of legend and terrifying — well, this writes itself — ruins. It’s Risk, Reward, Ruin.

RISK

This is no easy course, and it puts a premium on ball striking. But there’s also a significant course history from which to decipher. Part of the risk this week involves the shift from February to November weather. Part of the risk involves a gamble on mental stability, and part on golfers needing to break through.

Briny Baird

Oh, Briny. The PGA Tour veteran was so close to getting his first victory last week. But an ill-timed bogey on No. 18 swung the scoreboard in Kirk’s favor. Now, Baird is 0-for-366 and he’s back on the course after a second-place finish that he admitted to be a hard, hard loss. How his psyche bounces back is the question mark, because if not for that, he’s a Reward guy all the way with his success here through the years (2012, T12; 2011, T5; 2010, T4; 2009, T6; 2008, T12). Hard not to love that consistency.

Chris Stroud

Stroud played well last year with a T5 and a T40 in 2010, and he picked up a T5 two weeks ago in Malaysia. Aside from that, there’s not much to fall back on except a second-place finish in the Travelers last year. Definitely a big wildcard.

Matt Every

The University of Florida grad is coming off a good week at The McGladrey Classic, where he finished T7 after shooting 10-under. He has two runner-up finishes in his career, but no wins. Last year, he was just two strokes back of the leaders, finishing tied for third. He also got DQ’ed in fourth round of 2010, but had been playing well. Good revenge pick.

Russell Henley

This is more of a gut instinct than anything else, as his game lately has been just average and he hasn’t played this course. But he did leave the country last year for blue waters and sandy beaches and blistered the Sony Open on the way to a first career win. I think he can finish in the top five.

Ryan Moore

After a win two weeks ago in Malaysia, Moore followed up with a 2-under total in China. He’s rested since and enters in good form. He also is a first timer here, but his game is well suited for a run at a second win.

REWARD

To be honest, I don’t love the reward picks this week, but only because of their names. Their records on this course, however, suggest a big week is in store for one, and all will be consistent and safely inside the top 20.

Brian Gay

The 2008 champion has been a staple among the first names of the leaderboard, and he’s also earned the most career money. He finished T20 in 2011 and T5 in 2009, and is coming off a 12-under tournament in The McGladrey Classic.

Charles Howell III

He will get you points thanks to his consistency. He hits the ball straight, which is probably why he’s been in the top 20 the past three years. He’s played well the past two weeks (T7, T27).

J.J. Henry

I really like Henry to grab a top five this week. He hasn’t missed a cut in four tries at this tournament and finished second in 2009 and T9 last year. And at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open a few weeks ago, he got to 13-under par. The 38-year-old has two wins on Tour and probably has one more in him. Could this be the week? Doubtful, but a solid four-day total is good reward.

John Huh

He’s the defending champion, winning in a playoff and getting his first Tour win in just the fifth start of his rookie year. That’s about all we have to go on, other than a 10-under round at the Shriners this fall. Maybe this course just captures his eye. Maybe it is to him what Firestone is to Tiger.

Robert Garrigus

This is officially my pick to win. He can be a birdie machine at times and if he figures out the greens, he could go super low. Add in that his form thus far through three tournaments is championship caliber and you have the makings of Mexican masterpiece.

RUIN

When it comes to eating Mexican food in my town, I have one place I go to for tacos, one I go to for burritos and one I go to for quesadillas. So when a new place opened up, I went and tried it. What I discovered was there was no wow factor. It didn’t do anything the others didn’t. As a result, I won’t be going back. Don’t make the same mistake picking.

Greg Norman

The Shark has had his share of signature wins and his share of collapses through the years. But nowadays, he’s just in the field because he designed the dang thing. He’ll miss the cut.

James Driscoll

Driscoll put together a very solid season last year, but ended on a sour note in the FedEx Cup with consecutive MC’s. And that’s not good because he’s not fared well at El Camaleon, including a few missed cuts.

Ben Curtis

Curtis has four Tour wins to his credit, but the 2012 Valero Texas Open was his last. Since that time, he has steadily declined. He missed the cut at Mayakoba last year and didn’t play well last week.

Steven Bowditch

Bowditch also doesn’t have a good track record through the years, including an MC last season. If he does make the weekend, his scores have been several strokes above par.

Dicky Pride

Pride has one career win and it came a loooong time ago. He’s had a couple feel-good moments in recent memory, and did manage a T5 at the Reno-Tahoe Open to end last season. However, he’s just starting his season at an event he has played consistently well. He was T5 last year, and that scares me because the other years have been bad. I think we found our outlier.

As always you can find me on Twitter @bricmiller to discuss any fantasy inquiries and settle the raging Mexican food debate over what is best: tacos, burritos or quesadillas. Happy picking, and we’ll see you again in January when the Tour winners tee it up in Hawaii!