It’s going to be difficult to make a case for any player not named Jon Rahm to win this week, but we’ll try.
The 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta in Vallarta, Mexico, features three of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Wouldn’t exactly classify that as a strong field.
Rahm, who most recently tied for 15th at the RBC Heritage a week after adding the green jacket to his wardrobe, is the betting favorite at +260. Tony Finau is the next name on the list and he sits at +750. Two clear alpha dogs in this field.
Both Zurich Classic champions, Nick Hardy and Davis Riley, withdrew from the field Monday.
Golf course
Vidanta Vallarta | Par 71 | 7,456 yards
Course history
Vidanta Vallarta – Course History for the #MexicoOpen
Includes finish position and Strokes Gained per round in the only event here last year.
Past Winner/Odds – 2022 – Jon Rahm (-17) +450 pic.twitter.com/rHJghKEUzi
— Ron Klos (@PGASplits101) April 24, 2023
Betting preview
Odds
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
| Jon Rahm | (+260) | Alex Smalley | (+4500) |
| Tony Finau | (+750) | Alex Noren | (+4500) |
| Wyndham Clark | (+1600) | Aaron Rai | (+4500) |
| Gary Woodland | (+2200) | Will Gordon | (+5000) |
| Patrick Rodgers | (+2800) | Emiliano Grillo | (+5000) |
| Nicolai Hojgaard | (+3000) | Ben Martin | (+5000) |
| Stephan Jaeger | (+3500) | Taylor Pendrith | (+5500) |
| Maverick McNealy | (+3500) | S.H. Kim | (+5500) |
| Byeong Hun An | (+3500) | Joseph Bramlett | (+5500) |
| Beau Hossler | (+3500) | Garrick Higgo | (+5500) |
Gary Woodland (22/1)
Vidanta Vallarta is the sixth-longest course on the PGA Tour schedule and owns the longest combined par 4s/5s, according to data analyst Ron Klos. There’s also very little penalty for driving the ball in the rough, aka, a bomber’s paradise.
This season, Woodland is ninth in driving distance and has played consistently in 2023. After tying for ninth at the Genesis Invitational, Woodland added good finishes at the Masters (T-14) and RBC Heritage (T-31).
Last year, Woodland finished T-24 at the Mexico Open.
Patrick Rodgers (28/1)
Rodgers tied for 19th at the RBC Heritage and claimed solo fifth at the Valero Texas Open in his last two Tour starts. He finished 10th at the Mexico Open last season.
Chez Reavie (130/1)
After missing six straight cuts from the American Express to the Valspar Championship, Reavie tied for sixth at the Valero Texas Open and for 11th at the RBC Heritage. At last year’s Mexico Open, Reavie finished T-13.
Reavie isn’t exactly a bomber — 184th in driving distance — but his iron play has come to life over his last two starts. He was 13th in SG: Approach at the Valero and first at the RBC Heritage. If that trend continues south of the border, expect Reavie to contend.
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