Mexico Open

With contracts already agreed on hosting duties for many events the Greg Norman designed Vidanta course in Mexico is host for the Mexico Open for the second year running. It wouldn't surprise me should his courses gradually fade from the schedule with relations showing no signs of improving between the two tours.

The course here was converted from a par 73 to a par 71 for tournament golf, and with measuring close to 7500 yards is a bit of a beast at that yardage. Unlike Mayakoba this is at sea level so the shorter hitters have a larger bridge to gap. That played out as we expected last year with Rahm ranking 2nd in SG OTT and 3rd in Driving Distance on route to winning at 17 under par.

Cameron Champ ranked 1st OTT finishing 6th whilst numerous others in the top 10 performed well in the same department. Rahm, Kitayama, Finau, Riley and Champ all figured in the top six, and all mighty hitters off the tee. Approach play usually rules on the PGA Tour but it didn't here last year with Rahm finishing 29th in that department and 5th placed Davis Riley ranking 68th with his irons. Below are the rankings for the top 10 in last year's event.

With Paspaulm fairways and greens a nod to form at Coco Beach and Corales is certainly advisory as well as form on San Antonio, another Norman design but the focus will primarily be on the bombers.

Gary Woodland at 30/1 (Eight Places)

We got involved with Gary Woodland a few weeks ago after Round 1 at the Masters at 100/1 and he managed to get into place contention. That was off the back of signs that his putting was improving and having finished 18th on the greens at Augusta he followed it in the following week at Harbour Town ranking 11th on the greens on route to finishing 31st.

Massively dropped down in grade now Woodland has a big chance here to put his excellent ball striking season on the map and land a big finish. Greens were easily enough hit here last year and hopefully that puts less stress on his weakness around the greens. We backed him here last year at 22/1 and anything bigger looks worthy of investment once again. 

2pts each-way G.Woodland  30/1  1/5 8 (Bet365 Each Way Extra)

Gary Woodland - 2pts e/w @ 30/1

Nicolai Hojgaard at 35/1 (Eight Places)

I was reluctant to get involved with Nicolai Hojgaard last month in Punta Cana simply because of the price but he very nearly obliged finishing one shot shy of Matt Wallace's target. A top 30 finish the following week in Texas was another fine effort for one of the game's most talented youngsters. He and Olesen finished 32nd last week with a poor final round of 74 between them but on Days 1 and 3 fourballs he was the better of the two comfortably.

Vidanta should be right up his street, almost more so than any other PGA Tour venue and I expect the Dane to give this a bold run. He has already landed a win on Paspalum in Ras Al Khaimah early last year and having gained temporary membership on the tour just last week looks like one who could capitalise on that quite quickly.

1.5pts each-way N.Hojgaard  35/1  1/5 8 (Skybet, Bet365 Each Way Extra)

Nicolai Hojgaard - 1.5pts e/w @ 35/1

Byeong-Hun An at 40/1 (Eight Places)

Byeong-Hun An has beefed up his distance in the past couple of years and now sits inside the top 10 in that statistic on the PGA Tour this season. Incredibly his only win on either of the main tours remains at Wentworth back in 2015. Eight years is a long time to wait for someone of An's capability but there are reasons to suggest the next win may be close.

He didn't play here last year so we've no solid evidence just yet but two top sevens at San Antonio, with the most recent of those being three weeks ago is a positive heading to another Norman designed track. His approach play that week marked his best week with the irons since the CJ Cup back in October of 2020.

With a 20 under par total at the Zurich with his fellow countryman SH Kim we can assume his game has remained in fair nick despite the few weeks off. To date this season represents his best on the greens since 2016 and a switch to Paspalum can only level the playing field somewhat with what is his weakness.

1.25pts each-way Byeong-Hun An  40/1  1/5 8 (Bet365 Each Way Extra)

Byeong-Hun An - 1.25pts e/w @ 40/1

Taylor Pendrith at 40/1 (Eight Places)

Taylor Pendrith has struggled to reach the heights that saw him qualify for the Presidents Cup Team late last year but a solid effort with Gligic last week finishing tied 13th could be a springboard to greater things. The Canadian is one who will enjoy a course which allows the sluggers off the tee to put their foot down.

He missed the cut previous to the Zurich at Harbour Town, a venue which doesn't exactly suit his game. Nevertheless after a poor opening day there he fired a second round 68 to miss the cut on the number, and clearly took some of that form to New Orleans last week. Pendrith remains a very dangerous animal waiting to break his duck on tour and dropped down in class here must be closely watched.

1.25pts each-way T.Pendrith  40/1  1/5 8 (Bet365 Each Way Extra)

Taylor Pendrith - 1.25pts e/w @ 40/1

Matti Schmid has struggled to make an impact on the PGA Tour but a solid effort in Texas (46th) and another top 30 alongside Frittelli last week are positive signs and his length from the tee may make the difference and give him a fair chance to improve on those recent efforts. With 70/1 out there Matt Wallace is certainly interesting having gone off a 22s poke in Corales when winning just a few starts ago.

This is not a million miles tougher than that assignment field wise but the +9 effort at Harbour Town and subsequent poor golf in New Orleans is a hurdle difficult to get over despite the price. Wyndham Clark remains difficult to get involved with at the current price despite having all the credentials for this test. He is a fabulous golfer of that there is no doubt, but it's five years and counting for a victory and I don't know if it's prudent to be taking around the 20/1, even in fields of this quality.

Ryan Brehm at 450/1 (Eight Places)

At 450/1 I'll have a small bet on Ryan Brehm. Brehm already has a victory on Paspalum grass winning in Puerto Rico last year. His results are poor on paper there is no doubt but it must be said recent courses such as Harbour Town, Copperhead and Sawgrass are far from ideal for him.

His strength lies off the tee and in particular with distance currently ranking 35th on tour in that department this season. This course should suit and given how well he won in Puerto Rico (by six shots) last year looks one to take a chance on with a driver heavy course.

0.5pt each-way R.Brehm  450/1  1/5 8 (Bet365 Each Way Extra)

Ryan Brehm - 0.5pts e/w @ 450/1