Much is made of the vast distances today’s top professionals hit the ball and it is most definitely true that it helps if you can propel the ball in excess of 310 yards from the tee as a matter of course. But Brian Campbell returns to defend his Mexico Open title this week as one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour.
He averages less than 280 yards from the tee. To put that into perspective in today’s game, that means he hits the ball around 40 yards shorter than Rory McIlroy. On most courses, that is a huge disadvantage, but Campbell made light of it when the tournament was last played in February 2025.
Campbell enjoyed a huge slice of luck during the second playoff hole to claim the title and his first PGA Tour victory over Aldrich Potgieter. In regulation play, the leaderboard changed regularly throughout the final round, with the likes of Aaron Rai, Isaiah Salinda and Ben Griffin challenging over the final 18 holes.
However, at the end of play, following birdies from both at the 72nd hole, it was Campbell and Potgieter who managed to get to 20-under and force a playoff at Vidanta Vallarta.
At the first playoff hole, both had opportunities to take the win, but both missed makeable birdie putts as we headed back down the par 5 18th for a second playoff hole.
Unsurprisingly, big-hitting Potgieter had been comfortably outdriving his opponent all day and, at the 18th, it was advantage to the South African as he found the short grass once again.
Campbell’s tee shot was heading out of bounds but hit a tree and finished in the rough. From there, Campbell laid up and, after Potgieter found the greenside bunker, the American stuck his wedge to near gimme range as Campbell made the most of his huge break. Potgieter left himself a six-foot birdie putt but missed, leaving Campbell to tap-in for the biggest win of his career.
He also won the John Deere Classic in 2025. But 2026 has been an entirely different story. In 23 starts he has made just nine cuts with not a single top-20 finish. His world ranking has plummeted and he is outside the top 160 in the FedEx Cup standings. However, his two wins in 2025 means he has no concerns about keeping his card for 2027.
Wyndham Clark will surely start the week as a warm favourite. The American has returned to his very best form in some style this season.
He had a thoroughly miserable time in 2025, which reached its nadir at the US Open at Oakmont when he took out his frustrations on a defenceless locker in the changing rooms. It was an action he came to regret and won him few friends.
The struggles continued at the start of 2026. But after missing the cut at the US PGA, something clicked. He won the CJ Cup, finished third at The Memorial, tied 11th at the Canadian Open and then won the US Open for the second time. He wasn’t the most popular champion of all time, with the crowds actively rooting against him as they struggled to forgive him for his actions at Oakmont. But he shrugged it off.
And he wasn’t finished yet. There was a tied fifth at the Travelers and the FedEx St Jude before a third victory of the year at the BMW Championship on his way to prize money to date in excess of $14.6m.
What Tony Finau would give for some of that form. A six-time PGA Tour winner, he is enduring a year to forget, languishing in 171st place in the world rankings and 104th in the FedEx Fall standings and with a solitary top-10 finish to his name. As a former champion here, he will be desperately hoping to draw on some positive memories. Finau is a big hitter and a crowd favourite but is first and foremost a family man and it is possible that he has taken his eye off the ball in recent times. He is going to have to pull his finger out if he wants to remain on the PGA Tour and I expect him to do enough.
Tournament winners:
Jon Rahm won the inaugural tournament in 2022, it was won in 2023 by Tony Finau, in 2024 by Jake Knapp and last year by Brian Campbell.
The course:
Vidanta Vallarta was designed by Greg Norman. Although there are plenty of trees, the fairways are generous so scoring will be low once again. Most greens are large and undulating and protected by cavernous bunkers. It is a par 73 measuring 7,287 yards.
Form guide:
It is difficult to see beyond Wyndham Clark, who is aiming for his fourth victory of 2026 and could reduce this course to its knees if he drives the ball well.
Prize money:
The total prize fund is $8.5m, with $1.5m going to the winner along with 500 FedEx Cup points.
How to watch:
Thursday, October 29, Friday, October 30, Saturday, October 31, Sunday, November 1, Sky Sports Golf, 8pm.
To win:
Wyndham Clark. Class act
Each way:
Tom Kim. On comeback trail
Each way:
Blades Brown. Fabulous prospect
Five to follow:
Wyndham Clark. Looking for fourth win of 2026
Tom Kim. Great entertainer
Blades Brown. Keep an eye on this kid
Max Homa. Battling back
Luke Clanton. Bubbling under
Five outsiders to watch:
Aaron Baddeley. Blast from the past
Tony Finau. Needs a good week - and soon
Rasmus Hojgaard. Will get there
John Parry. There or thereabouts
John Daly II. Big shoes to fill!
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