The Mexico Open was first played in 1944 at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Naucalpan, Estado de México, Mexico. Al Espinosa, an American of Mexican descent, dominated the early years, winning the tournament’s first four editions. In 2022, the event became an official PGA TOUR stop and moved to its current venue, the Vidanta Vallarta Course at Vidanta World.
With only three years of data at this course, predicting a clear path to victory remains challenging. Notably, two of the last three winners had never played at this venue before. The only exception was Tony Finau in 2023, who finished T2 in his tournament debut the year prior before winning the following year.
With that in mind, let’s break down some key categories: 'Horses for Courses'—players who have consistently performed well at this event, 'Donkeys for Courses'—those who have historically struggled, and 'Birdies'—golfers who excel in Birdies or Better %, a crucial stat in a tournament that typically demands a low winning score.
Mexico Open: Horses
Players who consistently thrived at Vidanta World (Vidanta Vallarta Course).
Patrick Rodgers
The 32-year-old has competed in this tournament for the past three years, steadily improving his results. In his 2022 debut, he finished T10, followed by another 10th-place finish the following year. Last season, he posted his best result at this venue, finishing T6.
Stephan Jaeger
Stephan Jaeger has played in this event in each of the past three seasons. In his 2022 debut, he finished T15, followed by a T18 finish in 2023. Last year, he recorded his best result at Vidanta World, finishing T3, just five strokes behind the winner.
Carson Young
Carson Young has played in this event twice since earning his PGA TOUR card following the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season. He made his tournament debut in 2023, finishing T15, and improved on that result last year with a T8 finish. Young has consistently thrived on coastal courses, highlighted by top five finishes at both the World Wide Technology Championship and the Puerto Rico Open.
Mexico Open: Donkeys
Players who struggle repeatedly at Vidanta World (Vidanta Vallarta Course).
José Cristóbal Islas
José Cristóbal Islas, a 22-year-old from Pachuca, Mexico, received a sponsor’s exemption to compete in this week’s event. He has played in the Mexico Open three times—first in 2021, when it was part of the PGA TOUR Americas, and again in 2022 and 2023 after it became a PGA TOUR event. In his two appearances at Vidanta Vallarta, Islas has missed the cut both times, losing a total of 14.91 strokes gained against the field.
Matthias Schmid
Matthias Schmid has competed in this event twice, in 2023 and 2024, missing the cut both times. Over those two appearances, he has lost a total of 14.57 strokes gained against the field. His struggles have continued on the PGA TOUR this season, as he has missed the cut in three of his last four starts leading into this week’s event.
José Antonio Safa
José Antonio Safa, an amateur from Torreón, Mexico, received a sponsor’s exemption to compete in this week’s event. He has played in the Mexico Open twice before, missing the cut in 2021 and 2023. Across those two appearances, he has lost a total of 13.11 strokes gained against the field.
Mexico Open: Birdies
Each of the last three winners of the Mexico Open have posted a winning score of -17 or better. To contend this week, players will need to be aggressive and rack up birdies. Here’s a look at golfers who excel in Birdies or Better %.
Harry Hall
Harry Hall kicked off the 2025 season in impressive fashion, recording top-10 finishes at The Sentry and the Sony Open in Hawaii. However, he has struggled in recent weeks, finishing T58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and missing the cut at the WM Phoenix Open in his most recent PGA TOUR start. Despite this, he currently ranks 7th in Birdies or Better % this season. Hall has competed in this event twice, finishing T10 in 2023 and T33 last year.
Jesper Svensson
PGA TOUR rookie Jesper Svensson currently ranks 11th in Birdies or Better % this season. He began the year on a strong note with a T10 finish, but struggled in his next two starts, missing the cut in both. However, he showed some improvement at the WM Phoenix Open, finishing T63. This will be his tournament debut, but he has experience on similar courses—his lone DP World Tour win last season came at Laguna National Golf Resort Club (Porsche Singapore Classic), a layout featuring heavy bunkering, much like this week's venue.
Trey Mullinax
Trey Mullinax has played in three events this season, finishing T18 at The American Express, missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, and placing T32 at the WM Phoenix Open. He currently ranks 13th in Birdies or Better % for the season. Mullinax has competed in this tournament once before, finishing T24 in 2022.