Mexico Open 2025 Begins with Top Golfers Absent

The 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in Vallarta, Mexico, begins on February 20, featuring players such as defending champion Jake Knapp, Akshay Bhatia, and Aaron Rai, with a $7 million purse and a winner's prize of $1.26 million. Although top-ranked players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are absent, the event awards 500 FedEx Cup points and is broadcast on the Golf Channel and streamed via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+. Open qualifiers Hayden Springer, Riley Lewis, Matthew Watkins, and Luke Gifford secured their spots through a playoff, while players like Nicolai Højgaard and past PGA TOUR winners aim to make their mark. Despite its challenging schedule position, the tournament offers a chance to qualify for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the Vidanta Vallarta Course is expected to yield low scores due to its birdie-friendly conditions.