The PGA Tour moves on from California to Mexico this week for the Mexico Open, which will take place at Vidanta Vallarta for the fourth straight season.
Jon Rahm won the first PGA Tour-sanctioned Mexico Open at this coastal course in 2022 and Tony Finau defeated the Spaniard by three shots the following season, but this year's field lacks star quality with only four of the world's top 50 in attendance.
While England's Aaron Rai is the highest-ranked player in the field, it's world No.30 Akshay Bhatia who is at the head of the betting for the Mexico Open after last week's top-ten finish in the Genesis Invitational.
Vidanta Vallarta, a 7,436-yard par-71 designed by Greg Norman, is a wide-open track and all of the last three champions, including last year's winner Jake Knapp, hit the ball a mile. This is a venue which favours powerful drivers.
- AKSHAY BHATIA TO WIN & EACH-WAY
- ANTOINE ROZNER TO WIN & EACH-WAY
- ALDRICH POTGIETER TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Bhatia Looks A Worthy Favourite
As the betting suggests, Akshay Bhatia sets the standard in this field and the California has a huge chance of claiming his third PGA Tour title at Vidanta Vallarta.
Bhatia has made one previous trip to this course, finishing fourth when ranked 283rd in the world, and he returns as a PGA Tour rising star who looks set to contend for silverware with regularity this year.
The 23-year-old has made a steady start to the season, producing his best effort of the year at Torrey Pines last week, and he's often been at his best when faced with the coastal conditions he will encounter in Mexico.
Bhatia won a Korn Ferry Tour title in the Bahamas in 2022, he was a runner-up at the Puerto Rico Open the following season, and he finished fourth behind Scottie Scheffler in the Hero World Challenge in December. He looks well equipped to challenge for this title.
AKSHAY BHATIA TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Rozner Could Relish This Test
Sami Valimaki finished runner-up in this tournament last season and his presence towards the top of the leaderboard suggests that Frenchman Antoine Rozner could produce a bold bid on his course debut.
Valimaki claimed the 2023 Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club, where Rozner finished sixth in 2024 and fourth this year on his most recent start, and there are some similarities between that venue and the similarly exposed Vidanta Vallarta.
Rozner, who gained his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour rankings last year, is yet to shine on the US circuit but this weaker field presents the Parisian with a big opportunity.
ANTOINE ROZNER TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Potgieter Can Bomb His Way To Glory
With power in mind, this is also a chance for the supremely talented Aldrich Potgieter to get his hands on a PGA Tour title.
Korn Ferry Tour graduate Potgieter is one of the longest drivers in the sport and his sole win on the PGA Tour's feeder circuit came under similar conditions in the Bahamas last season.
While he remains very raw, the South African has already shown an ability to compete at the top level, finishing second in the DP World Tour's Nedbank Challenge at the end of last year then 15th at the Farmers Insurance Open on his most recent PGA Tour start.
ALDRICH POTGIETER TO WIN & EACH-WAY
