Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The Mexico Open at VidantaWorld is the next stop on the PGA Tour and will be played February 20-23 at VidantaWorld in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Days before the start of the tournament, the already weakened field suffered a major blow when the top-ranked player withdrew.
Maverick McNealy, who nearly won the Genesis Invitational, had committed to play in the Mexico Open. However, McNealy decided not to make the trip and is going to take some time off, giving his place to alternate Philip Knowles.
McNealy has played in six of the seven events on the PGA Tour schedule to date. He has made the cut in each and finished in the top 10 three times, including solo second at the Genesis Invitational.
His excellent play to begin 2025 has vaulted him to 14th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
Tee box marker of the first hole during the second round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta at Vidanta Vallarta on February 23, 2024 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Tee box marker of the first hole during the second round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta at Vidanta Vallarta on February 23, 2024 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
Now the highest ranked golfer in the field for the Mexico Open is Aaron Rai, World No. 29. The tournament will feature just two players ranked in the top 40, two more in the top 50 and another 22 members of the top 100.
The latter group includes defending Mexico Open champion Jake Knapp, World No. 97.
Knapp won the 2024 edition of the tournament as a rookie, but has only three other top-10 finishes in 23 tournaments played last season.
In addition to Rai, the Mexican Open field includes Akshay Bhatia, World No. 37, who has won two PGA Tour events in the past two seasons. Patrick Rodgers (World No. 75) and Michael Kim (World No. 80) are also in the field, coming off a T3 and T13 finish, respectively, at the Genesis Invitational.
In Kim’s case, he tied for second at the Phoenix Open a week earlier.
The tournament will also feature several rising stars. These include Blades Brown, who recently turned pro at the age of 17. Also in the field will be reigning U.S. Amateur champion Josele Ballester and Frankie Capan III, who finished third on the Korn Ferry Tour’s points list in 2024.
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