Hope you had a great weekend! If you caught the action at Torrey Pines, you know it was a thriller. With that, we’ve wrapped up the third signature event of the PGA Tour season, and now it’s time to shift gears toward the next stop—the Mexico Open at Vidanta, taking place from February 20–23, 2025.

Now, before you ask—no, you won’t see Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, or recent Genesis Invitational champion Ludvig Åberg teeing off in Mexico. But that doesn’t mean the competition will be any less intense. With a $7 million purse on the line, every player in the field will be grinding for the $1.26 million winner’s check, while the runner-up pockets $763,000. Even a top-18 finish will secure a six-figure sum. And let’s not forget—the champion also walks away with 500 valuable FedEx Cup points.

So, who’s got the best shot at taking home the trophy? Defending champion Jake Knapp is back to protect his title, and the field is packed with a mix of experienced pros and hungry young talents eager to make their mark.

With 132 players on the field, the battle for the weekend will be fierce. Like most PGA Tour stops, the cut will come after 36 holes, with the top 65 and ties moving on to fight for the title.

1. Jake Knapp

If course familiarity counts for anything, Jake Knapp has a real shot at defending his title at the Mexico Open. After all, this is the place where he clinched his first PGA Tour win, and that kind of confidence boost can go a long way.

Last year, Knapp gave an impressive performance at Vidanta Vallarta, finishing at 19-under after a steady final-round 71. And while 2024 was technically his rookie season on the PGA Tour, he wasted no time making a name for himself. Out of 23 starts, he made the cut 18 times, cracked the top 10 in four events, and secured five top-25 finishes.

Beyond his breakthrough in Mexico, Knapp has been showing great form this season: Farmers Insurance Open (T3) and Cognizant Classic (T4). Most recently, he held his own at The Genesis Invitational, finishing T17 with a solid 3-under 69 in the final round.

So, can he do it again? The course is familiar, the competition is similar, and Knapp has already proven he can handle the pressure. If he does, this just might be the week he bags PGA Tour win No. 2.

2. Aaron Rai

With the world’s top 10 golfers sitting this one out, Aaron Rai comes in as the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 29. And if there’s anyone eager to grab a second PGA Tour win, it’s him.

Rai’s first and only Tour victory came at the 2024 Wyndham Championship, where he put on a show in the final round, firing a 64 to finish at 18-under. Last year, he was in the top 25 thirteen times and cracked the top 10 in six events, proving just how consistent he can be.

So far in 2025, he’s played four events, making the cut in three. While Torrey Pines got the best of him, he bounced back at The Genesis Invitational, where he carded a 72 in the final round and finished T37. His best finish so far? A solid T15 at The Sentry, with a total score of 271.

If Rai can keep up his momentum and bring some of that Wyndham Championship magic to Vidanta Vallarta, there’s no reason he can’t break through and snag win No. 2.

3. Akshay Bhatia

If you caught last week’s Genesis Invitational, you already know why Akshay Bhatia is on this list. The guy finished T9 at Torrey Pines, one of the toughest courses on Tour—his best result of the season so far. Now, all he has to do is ride that momentum into Vidanta Vallarta.

Bhatia is no stranger to winning. Last year, he claimed his second PGA Tour title at the Valero Texas Open, holding the lead for three straight rounds before sealing the deal in a playoff. That win made him the first lefty to win on Tour in 2024 and the first to take the Valero Texas Open since Eric Axley in 2006. Looking at his 2024 season, Bhatia racked up 12 top-25 finishes and three top-10s—a solid resume for a 23-year-old still making his mark. If he keeps trending upward, there’s a real chance he grabs PGA Tour win No. 3 in Mexico. Who knows?

4. Rasmus Højgaard

While Rasmus Højgaard didn’t make it through the tough Genesis Invitational, he’s been showing solid form this season. With finishes like T14 at the Dubai Desert Classic, T22 at the AT&T, and T12 at the Phoenix Open, he’s clearly been putting up consistent performances.

Currently ranked in the top 50 of the OWGR, Højgaard is still chasing that elusive first PGA Tour win. However, he’s no stranger to winning—five wins in five different countries over his young career prove he has what it takes. Now, it’s just a matter of finding that chance to break through.

With no clear top-10 players in this field, Højgaard has a golden opportunity to showcase his talents and finally claim his first PGA Tour victory.

5. Stephan Jaeger

Stephan Jaeger has been here before—close to a win, and he’s ready to be in the mix again. Last year, he came up big at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, snagging his first PGA Tour victory in his 135th start. He held a share of the lead after round three and converted that 54-hole lead to victory, improving to 1-for-2 when holding the lead heading into the final round.

This season, he’s been solid too. His best performance was a T3 finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and he showed up decently at the Genesis Invitational, finishing T44. Now, with a fresh event ahead at the Mexico Open, Jaeger could be primed for PGA Tour win No. 2. Having been so close before, this could very well be his chance to finally snag that second win and add another chapter to his Tour story.

So who are you rooting for in this tournament? Let us know in the comments!