Golf Glance: Tony Finau defends in Mexico; LPGA begins Asia swing
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Players on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions have left the United States and spread out across three continents this week.
PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: The Genesis Invitational (Hideki Matsuyama)
THIS WEEK: Mexico Open at Vidanta, Vallarta, Mexico, Feb. 22-25
Course: Vidanta Vallarta (Par 71, 7,456 yards)
Purse: $8.1M (Winner: $1.458M)
Defending Champion: Tony Finau
FedEx Cup Leader: Matthieu Pavon
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @MexicoOpenGolf
NOTES: The winner this week will earn a spot in all five remaining signature events this year. If the winner is not a current PGA Tour member, he must accept membership after the event to be eligible. ... Vidanta Vallarta was designed by current LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. ... Will Gordon and Will Zalatoris withdrew from the event and were replaced by Ryan Palmer and Scott Piercy. ... There are eight players from Mexico in the field, including PGA Tour rookie Raul Pereda.
BEST BETS: Tony Finau (+800 at BetMGM) is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 24 as he seeks to successfully defend a title for the first time. He also finished T2 at Vidanta in 2022. ... Nicolai Hojgaard (+1600) has made three consecutive cuts to begin his PGA Tour career, including a runner-up at Torrey Pines. ... Emiliano Grillo (+2200) is one of the more accomplished players in the field and has made all six cuts in 2024. ... Patrick Rodgers (+3300) has a pair of top-10s in the event the past two years. ... Brandon Wu (+3500) finished T2 in 2022 and solo third last year. ... Mackenzie Hughes (+5500) is coming off a T31 at the Genesis Invitational.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Cognizant Classic, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Feb. 29-March 3
LPGA Tour
LAST TOURNAMENT: LPGA Drive On Championship (Nelly Korda)
THIS WEEK: Honda LPGA Thailand, Chonburi, Thailand, Feb. 22-25
Course: Siam Country Club, Old Course (Par 72, 6,576 yards)
Purse: $1.7M (Winner: $255,000)
Defending Champion: Lilia Vu
Race to the CME Globe leader: Lydia Ko
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Wednesday-Thursday, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. ET; Friday-Saturday, 10:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m. (All times Golf Channel)
Streaming (Peacock): Wednesday-Thursday, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. ET; Friday-Saturday, 10:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m.
X: @hondalpgath
NOTES: This is a 72-hole stroke play event with no cut for the 72-player field, and begins a three-event swing in Asia. It is one of seven events in Asia on the 2024 schedule. ... Siam has played host to 14 of the previous 16 editions of the tournament. ... Amy Yang is a three-time champion (2015, '17, '19). Her win at last year's CME Group Tour Championship was Yang's first since the 2019 win at Siam. ... Vu claimed her first LPGA Tour victory last year and went on to win three more times, including two majors. She defends her Thailand title as the world's No. 1-ranked player. ... Ariya Jutanugarn (2021) is the only Thai player to win this event.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: HSBC Women's World Championship, Singapore, Feb. 29-March 3
PGA Tour Champions
LAST TOURNAMENT: Chubb Classic (Stephen Ames)
THIS WEEK: Trophy Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco, Feb. 22-24
Course: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Par 73, 7,349 yards)
Purse: $2M (Winner: $360,000)
Defending Champion: Ames
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steven Alker
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Saturday, 8-11 a.m. ET (All times Golf Channel)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: Ames won the Chubb Classic after the final round was canceled due to weather, beating Rocco Mediate by three shots. It was Ames' seventh career Champions victory.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Cologuard Classic, Tucson, Ariz., March 8-10
LIV Golf League
LAST TOURNAMENT: Las Vegas (Individual: Dustin Johnson; Team: Smash GC)
THIS WEEK: OFF
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 1-3
—Field Level Media