Aaron Rai (left) finished tied-4th while Akshay Bhatia (right) secured 9th position at the Mexico Open
The $7 million Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta, held from February 20-23, saw two players of Indian heritage secure Top-10 finishes, with England’s Aaron Rai finishing tied-4th and Indian-American Akshay Bhatia placing ninth on the the Greg Norman-designed course in Vallarta, Mexico.
Aaron Rai, ranked No. 29 in the world and the highest-ranked player in the field, made an early charge with an eagle on the par-5 sixth after landing his approach just 20 inches from the hole and was in a strong position to win. However, he faltered with a 1-over for the remainder of the round, posting a final-round 67 to conclude at 18-under 266. This placed him in a tie for fourth alongside USA’s Ben Griffin.
However, Rai’s tournament performance was overshadowed by widespread criticism of his slow play. A particularly scrutinized moment occurred when he took nearly two minutes to line up and execute a putt—one that ultimately missed. Fans on social media voiced their frustration, calling his pace a deterrent to the viewing experience. Smylie Kaufman, a former PGA TOUR winner and presently a commentator on tour, weighed in, acknowledging Rai’s precise iron play but pointing out that his putting and wedge play failed to match the standards expected of a top-30 player.
Meanwhile, Akshay Bhatia continued his strong form, replicating his tied-9th finish from the previous week at Torrey Pines. The 23-year-old carded rounds of 66-66-70-67 to finish at 15-under 269. This was his second appearance at the Mexico Open, having placed solo fourth in 2023 with rounds of 63 and 65.
Brian Campbell of the USA earned his maiden win after a tense playoff against the long-hitting 20-year-old South African rookie Aldrich Potgieter. Campbell, who earned his tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024, shot a final-round 70 to catch the 54-hole leader before clinching the title with a birdie on the second playoff hole. The win marked his first PGA TOUR triumph in 187 PGA TOUR-sanctioned starts, earning him $1.26 million, 500 FedExCup points, and exemptions into major events, including The Players Championship, The Masters, and The PGA Championship.
With the Mexico Open concluded, the PGA TOUR moves to Florida for the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at PGA National, home to the challenging “Bear Trap.” The tournament will be the first stop in the Florida Swing.
