The 63rd edition of the event heads to Nuevo Vallarta and Vidanta Vallarta Resort for the second consecutive season as a PGA TOUR event.
63rd Mexico Open at Vidanta
Vidanta Vallarta Resort
Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
Weekly Readers:
Horses for Courses – click here
Betting Stat Pack – click here
Expert Picks – click here
Odds Outlook – click here
NOW PLAYING:
Not many!
Well, not many from the top 50 OWGR.
I believe it’s three (?). And if two of them are Jon Rahm and Tony Finau I’m not sure the next on the list matters.
Second of two weeks running where the rank and file can secure their future with a decent performance. Last week two first-time winners lifted the trophy as they outlasted massive favorites Cantlay and Schauffele.
So, it’s golf.
Anything, more the most part, is possible!
There’s room to swing driver this week but like Mayakoba, errant shots will be penalized with watery graves and sandy recoveries. Big targets off the tee and into the greens takes the coastal (mainly afternoon) breezes into account. One of the hardest tracts on TOUR to get in close in 2022 because of the size of the Paspalum putting surfaces.
Quirky layout at 35-36 with five, Par-3 holes and four, Par-5 holes, three coming on the inward nine. The finishing hole is also a five-shotter in case any extra drama is needed late on Sunday.
| Host Course | Vidanta Vallarta Resort |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,456 |
| Par: | 71 (35-36). |
| Greens: | Platinum Paspalum. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12 feet. |
| Rough: | Platinum Paspalum at two inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In Play | 55 bunkers; 6 lakes. |
| Architect(s): | Greg Norman (2016). |
| Purse: | $7.7 million; $1.386 million winner plus 500 FedExCup points. |
| Defending Champion: | Jon Rahm (-17) |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | None. |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record: | 267 on debut 2022. |
| Fact of the Week: | Rahm will be looking to become the fastest to five wins in a season in HISTORY. |
Notes:
- Field of 144 players.
- Top 65 and ties make the cut.
Season Winners
2022-2023 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| Fortinet Championship | Max Homa |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Mackenzie Holmes |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Keegan Bradley |
| CJ CUP at CONGAREE | Rory McIlroy |
| Butterfield Bermuda Championship | Seamus Power |
| Mayakoba Championship | Russell Henley |
| Cadence Bank Houston Open | Tony Finau |
| The RSM Classic | Adam Svensson (first TOUR win) |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
| Masters | Jon Rahm (4) |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Davis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each) |
Recent Winners
Italics – not entered this week
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2022 | Jon Rahm (-17) | Wire-to-wire winner after sharing the first-round lead. All four rounds in the 60s. |
Chalk (via BetMGM)
Jon Rahm (+250): We’ve been thru this before with him in BIG EVENTS and last year in the inaugural at Vidanta. If you absolutely have to back him, get creative to find any number better than this! My good buddy Ben Everill made the argument to fade him this week. I would counter that all of the reasons to fade him will push him to the trophy again. Rahm is a different dude, in a GREAT way, and wouldn’t surprise me to show off a bit this week. Does that mean I’m backing him at this number? Probably not.
Tony Finau (+750): The reset last week for Finau, similarly to Rahm, should be a big plus. Remember, these guys are not ASSIGNED these events! They make their own schedule. Finau closed with 63 last year to miss forcing a playoff by a shot. He’s back for another bite knowing that Rahm is here to defend. I like that. And I like this number more than +250 hahaha!
Wyndham Clark (+1800): That’s some number for a guy who’s never won on TOUR! It’s also a reflection of the shallow depth of the field this week. That’s not a knock on Clark, who has been hotter than a firecracker. Last week he had to sleep on a 54-hole lead with Beau Hossler. They finished third after the alternate shot format. Clark picked up T6 at Corales the last time the TOUR was on Paspalum. He’s hit the top 10 in three of his last four. Converge trends! CONVERRRRRRRRGE!!! T67 last year.
Gary Woodland (+2500): T24 here last year so he’ll have decent memories of knocking it around this resort outlay. Well, that or nightmares. He was T2 GIR and T69 (of 74 players) on the greens. Can’t putt it worse this time around with some previous knowledge, right? It’s your money!
Nicolai Hojgaard (+2800): Should be free as a bird after attaining STM. Now go blast up the leaderboard. T2 to Matt Wallace at Corales in March. Just young enough at 22 to not be bothered by any of this.
Patrick Rodgers (+2800): It’s his time of year. He loves May as he was 10th here last year and he seems to play great annually at Quail Hollow (next week). Hits it a mile and can putt so the large targets on approach should help. Only Finau hit more GIR last year here so he should be excited to improved on his 10th place payday. Never won on TOUR either.
Top 10/Top 20/Top 40
Ben An (+3500): T13 last week makes it NOYNE straight on TOUR so whatever is brewing needs to boil over. Resort greens should help him on the short grass this week.
Aaron Rai (+4500): He’s in my lineup in the Experts Game so I’m going to fit him in here as well. Not the longest but he’ll find plenty GIR. Now, about that putter…
Emiliano Grillo (+5000): Seems like he always finds a way if he’s in this part of the world on this grass. T7 at Harbour Town two weeks ago.
Chez Reavie (+8000): He’s hot. Jump on.
Nate Lashley (+9000): Paspalum, baby. T3 PRO. T11 here last year.
Longer Shots
Use ’em wherever you see fit! All players listed are +10000 or worse and are for a reason or two!
Michael Kim (+10000)
Henrik Norlander (+12500)
Matthias Schwab (+15000)
Sean O’Hair (+15000)
Martin Trainer (+17500)
Brice Garnett (+20000)
Cody Gribble (+25000)
Last Week – Zurich Classic
Second consecutive week I’ve had the winner in here for you! Nailed two out of three Top 10 selections and missed the other by a shot. Not bad for an odd week of team golf.
Chalk (via BetMGM)
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele (+300) – Won by just two last and set every record. Large target on the back. Scintillating form from each, minus a win. T4 in defense. Nobody has defended here.
Collin Morikawa and Max Homa (+750) – Cal Bears love fest. Probably won’t miss any GIR. Probably. First time partners. MC.
Sungjae Im and Keith Mitchell (+1100) – Won’t miss many fairways or greens. First time partners but both making appearance No. 4 each. Solo 6th and won the BRO AWARD for the week.
Billy Horschel and Sam Burns (+1200) – Shop around as I’ve seen them at 14s. They’ll need another big ball-striking week. T11.
Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim (+1400) – I can’t find a downside here, either. Already beaten Cantlay and Schauffele heads up in fourballs once. Only disappointment is they didn’t win. T7.
Kurt Kitayama and Taylor Montgomery (+2200) – Las Vegas residents should balance each other out nicely. T19
Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh (+2200) – California love as well as Pepperdine and USC join forces. Don’t forget Suh has cashed in 14 of 15 this year! Ding ding! T23.
Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler (+2500) – Like the team above, both looking for their first TOUR victory. Clark brings the heat in the form department. Led after 54 holes but finished third.
Top 10
Taylor Moore and Matthew NeSmith (+3300) – Been here, done this. Moore’s fantastic 2023 rolls on and NeSmith enjoyed some home cookin’ last week in South Carolina. T4 last year with 60 on the card. Annnnnnnnnnd T4 this year again!
Davis Riley and Nick Hardy (+3300) – Riley and Zalatoris T4 last year but the latter is hurt. Enter Hardy, who can give it a knock as well, but isn’t on Zala’s level. Tournament record setting WINNERS
Joel Dahmen and Denny McCarthy (+4000) – I love this combo. Should be proper ham and eggs. Gah, T11, just missed!
Longer Shots
Use ’em wherever you see fit! All players listed are +20000 or worse and are for a reason or two!
Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker (+8000) – Captain my captain. Old guys. Never take old guys. MC.
Ryan Gerard and Ben Griffin (+9000) – UNC homies. Long weekend off the course to catch up. MC.
Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard (+15000) – GUT FEELING. Brehm WD and took all the mojo with him.
David Lingmerth and Jonas Blixt (+20000) – How Swede it would be. I’ll get my coat. MC.
Have fun this week. Enjoy the low scoring on Thursday and Saturday and the pain and suffering of alternate shot on Friday and Sunday!
OAD – 2023 Spotter’s Game
| Already Burned |
| Sungjae Im – Maui |
| Tom Kim – Sony |
| Tom Hoge – AMEX |
| Viktor Hovland – Pebble |
| Xander Schauffele – WMPO |
| Max Homa – Riviera |
| Shane Lowry – Honda |
| Tyrrell Hatton – API |
| Akshay Bhatia – PRO |
| Jason Day – THE PLAYERS |
| Justin Rose – Valspar |
| Cam Percy – Corales |
| Scottie Scheffler – WGC MP |
| Rickie Fowler – Valero |
| Jordan Spieth – Masters |
| Collin Morikawa – RBC Heritage |
| Billy Horschel – Zurich |
This Week – Mexico Open at Vidanta
MY CHOICE: Nicolai Hojgaard
Others to consider: Wyndham Clark, Ben An, Patrick Rodgers
Last Week – Zurich Classic of New Orleans
MY CHOICE: Billy Horschel – T11
Oh, hey, T11.
Great.
Guess I should have considered OTHERS.
Others to consider: Keith Mitchell – 6th, Si Woo Kim – T7, Nick Taylor – 2nd
Glass Houses 