*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
This week sees the PGA tour head to Vidanta for the Mexico Open. To get us in the mood, we’ve turned to Sporting Life’s ever-trusty golfing guru Ben Coley for a lowdown on who’s who and what’s what ahead the event’s inaugural appearance on the PGA tour circuit.
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2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta
Thursday 28 April – Sunday 1 May
TV: Sky Sports Golf Red Button, Sky Sports Golf & Sky Sports Main Event
Main selections: Tony Finau and Gary Woodland
Anyone who looks at this market will see that it’s not the best event held on the PGA tour this year. But that gives an opportunity.
Although Jon Rahm’s the man to beat, I think both Tony Finau and Gary Woodland have excellent chances with the eight each-way places on offer.
Woodland’s been one of the form players on the PGA tour, he didn’t play well in the Masters but he never does.
If you look at his form just in standard, week-to-week PGA tour events he’s got three top-10 finishes in his last four and I think another one will be coming here.
He’s got form in Mexico and this course is long and should play pretty soft which will be right up his street. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go well.
As for Finau, he’s the second best player in this field and is a bit bigger in the market than many people would have expected. That’s because he’s not had a great year so far but I think he’s ready to kick on now.
He made the cut at the Masters and before that in Texas. He’s a big hitter and has loads of form in events like this; low-scoring, soft conditions, a long course with four par-5’s.
So, he’s got everything in his favour and this is a drop down in grade for him so he’s got a chance to find his game again before we get back into some majors.
Outside selections: Matt Jones and Paul Barjon
Matt Jones arrives with a good chance here, he was runner-up last time in Texas on a course designed by Greg Norman like this one.
Unlike a lot of the names towards the top of this market, he’s a proven winner with two wins on the PGA tour.
He’s been second and third this year in better fields which suggests he can pick up another title soon enough and I think this is a course for him. He hits the ball a long way for someone who’s not the biggest.
At a huge price, we’ve got Paul Barjon. He’s a PGA tour rookie and he’s already been in the final group for a low-key event back in January.
He hits the ball an absolute mile and he’s contended both times he’s been to Mexico at a lower level. I think he’s playing better than his form suggests at the moment so with the eight places on offer and at a seriously big price I’m hoping he can give punters a good run for their money.
Ben Coley’s Mexico Open tips
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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