The Mexico Open returns with more than a new spot on the calendar. Players face a rerouted Vidanta Vallarta course, while those near the FedExCup Fall cutoff have four tournaments left to secure their position for next season. Wyndham Clark headlines the field, Tony Finau returns as a former champion, and Brian Campbell has a title to defend.
Quick Answer: The 2026 Mexico Open golf tournament runs October 29 to November 1 at Vidanta Vallarta in Mexico. A 120-player field will compete for a $6 million purse, including $1.08 million for the winner. The PGA Tour has redesigned the par-71, 7,337-yard course, and the event will influence players’ eligibility for 2027.
2026 Mexico Open dates, location and tournament format
The VidantaWorld Mexico Open begins Thursday, October 29, and finishes Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Vidanta Vallarta in the Nuevo Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta resort area on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Tournament-week activities begin October 26, but those are separate from the four competitive rounds.
| Tournament detail | 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Official name | VidantaWorld Mexico Open |
| Competition dates | October 29 to November 1, 2026 |
| Course | Vidanta Vallarta, Mexico |
| Field size | 120 players |
| Format | 72-hole stroke play |
| Course setup | Par 71, 7,337 yards |
| Cut | Top 65 players and ties after 36 holes |
| Total purse | $6 million |
| Winner’s payout | $1.08 million |
| FedExCup points to winner | 500 |
| Defending champion | Brian Campbell |
The move to late October matters. The event previously occupied a spring slot, with its 2025 edition played in February. Now it is the fifth of eight FedExCup Fall tournaments, when golfers are trying to settle their standing for the following season.
Who is playing in the 2026 Mexico Open?
Wyndham Clark is the highest-ranked player in the field and arrives after three PGA Tour victories in 2026. His presence gives the tournament a recognizable headliner, but the more interesting contest may involve players who need a strong finish to improve their 2027 playing opportunities.
The notable entrants include:
- Wyndham Clark: The two-time U.S. Open champion enters as the leading name in the field. MadKnows has a separate look at Wyndham Clark’s 2026 equipment setup.
- Tony Finau: The 2023 Mexico Open winner returns to a course where he also finished runner-up in 2022.
- Tom Kim: Back in PGA Tour competition after winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
- Brian Campbell: The defending champion, who won the 2025 edition in a playoff.
- Aldrich Potgieter: Last year’s runner-up, back after losing that playoff to Campbell.
- Ben Griffin and Max Homa: Established Tour winners who add experience to the lineup.
- Corey Conners: A player whose fall results have put him in the conversation for valuable early-2027 starts.
There is also a meaningful Mexican contingent. Alvaro Ortiz, Omar Morales, Santiago de la Fuente, Alejandro Fierro, Mauricio Figueroa Ramirez and Gerardo Gomez received places through tournament exemptions. Their participation gives local fans more to follow than the international favorites.
The 120-player field can still change if someone withdraws before Thursday. The PGA Tour’s October 25 field update already recorded the withdrawals of Sami Valimaki, Austin Smotherman, Seamus Power and Davis Thompson, with replacements added. Those four should not appear in a supposedly current list of confirmed starters.
How much is the 2026 Mexico Open prize money?
The 2026 Mexico Open purse is $6 million, with the champion scheduled to earn $1,080,000, or 18% of the total. Second place is worth $654,000 for a sole runner-up, while a sole third-place finisher receives $414,000.
The announced top-10 payout schedule is:
| Finishing position | Prize money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,080,000 |
| 2nd | $654,000 |
| 3rd | $414,000 |
| 4th | $294,000 |
| 5th | $246,000 |
| 6th | $217,500 |
| 7th | $202,500 |
| 8th | $187,500 |
| 9th | $175,500 |
| 10th | $163,500 |
These are scheduled amounts for players who finish alone in those positions. Ties change the actual payout distribution. The winner also receives 500 FedExCup points, subject to the Tour’s eligibility rules for who can accumulate fall points.
The purse is $1 million smaller than the $7 million offered in 2025. That drop doesn’t make the week insignificant. For a player near the eligibility cutoff, the chance to secure more starts next year can be just as important as one tournament paycheck.
What changed at Vidanta Vallarta for 2026?
Vidanta Vallarta has the same par of 71 as before, but the PGA Tour now lists the course at 7,337 yards, 99 yards shorter than the previous tournament setup. More importantly, the routing has changed. Familiar hole numbers and historical scoring patterns won’t always describe the challenge players face this week.
Greg Norman Golf Course Design worked on the renovation, with particular attention to holes 4, 8, 17 and 18. The new routing also rearranges several hole types and brings the first, ninth, 10th and 18th holes into a central area for spectators and tournament operations.
| Hole or area | What’s different in 2026 | What to watch during play |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | A redesigned 423-yard par 4 replaces the former 520-yard hole | Tee-shot placement and approach angles rather than sheer length alone |
| 8th | Renovated as part of the course’s strategic redesign | How players choose lines around the updated hazards |
| 11th | Changes from a par 3 to a par 4 | A different approach-shot demand in the back nine |
| 13th | Changes from a par 3 to a drivable par 4 | Whether players attack the green or choose a safer layup |
| 15th | Changes from a par 4 to a par 3 | A shorter but potentially costly scoring opportunity |
| 17th | A newly configured par 3 with stadium-style viewing | Precision under pressure late in the round |
| 18th | A relocated finishing par 4, using what was previously the first hole | How the final tee shot shapes a close finish |
The par distribution remains unusual for a par-71 course: five par 3s, nine par 4s and four par 5s. Simply comparing total yardage with other Tour venues misses how differently those holes can play.
The new 13th could change late-round decisions
A drivable par 4 forces a real choice. A player who can reach the putting surface with a tee shot might gain a birdie or eagle chance, but a poorly judged aggressive line can bring trouble into play. The sensible option depends on the day’s tee position, wind, hazards and leaderboard, not just the yardage printed on the scorecard.
That tradeoff could become especially important on Sunday. A golfer chasing the lead has a different reason to attack than someone trying to protect a position around the cut or preserve a valuable finish.
Old course records need context
Tony Finau’s 260 in 2023 remains the tournament’s 72-hole record. Jon Rahm and Aldrich Potgieter share the tournament’s 18-hole record of 61, from 2023 and 2025 respectively.
Those records remain part of Mexico Open history, but the new layout makes direct comparisons less useful. If the 2026 champion scores higher or lower, the difference alone won’t prove the course became harder or easier. Weather, setup and scoring conditions also matter.
Why the FedExCup Fall standings matter in Mexico
The Mexico Open is the fifth of eight FedExCup Fall events. For golfers near the cutoff, it offers a chance to earn points before the season’s final three tournaments.
The eligibility rules have two particularly important dividing lines:
| Position or status | What’s at stake for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Top 100 at the end of the Fall | Full-field PGA Tour eligibility, subject to applicable exemptions and priority categories |
| Nos. 51 to 60 | Places in the first two applicable 2027 Signature Events through the Aon Next 10 |
| Nos. 101 to 125 | Conditional PGA Tour status rather than the same full-field access as the top 100 |
| Already protected through another exemption | The standings may matter less for keeping a card, although performance can still improve opportunities |
One distinction matters when reading the leaderboard. Players who finished inside the top 50 through the FedExCup Playoffs do not earn additional FedExCup Fall points. They can still compete for the title and prize money. Golfers ranked 51st and beyond are the ones accumulating fall points toward the relevant year-end positions.
That means a famous player struggling on Sunday and a lesser-known player sitting near the card cutoff may have very different concerns. A few places on the leaderboard can materially affect next year’s schedule for the latter. For context on how another Fall event fits into that race, see MadKnows’ Biltmore Championship tournament coverage.
Can Brian Campbell defend his Mexico Open title?
Brian Campbell won the 2025 Mexico Open after a playoff against Aldrich Potgieter. Both finished at 20 under par, and Campbell prevailed on the first extra hole for his maiden PGA Tour victory.
He returns as defending champion, but this isn’t an identical test. The 2025 championship took place in February on the previous routing. Campbell’s knowledge of the venue may help with general conditions, while the changed holes and October date reduce the value of assuming that last year’s winning formula will work again.
Finau is another past champion to watch. He won in 2023, and no golfer has defended a Mexico Open title successfully since the tournament joined the PGA Tour schedule in 2022. The redesign gives both former winners new decisions to make.
How to watch the 2026 Mexico Open on TV
Golf Channel has the US television coverage. The PGA Tour’s October 26 event preview lists the following times, all in US Eastern Time:
| Date | Round | Golf Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, October 29 | Round 1 | 4-7 p.m. ET |
| Friday, October 30 | Round 2 | 4-7 p.m. ET |
| Saturday, October 31 | Round 3 | 4-7 p.m. ET |
| Sunday, November 1 | Final round | 3-6 p.m. ET in the event preview, pending reconfirmation |
There is a discrepancy worth checking before Sunday: a separate PGA Tour media broadcast schedule lists 4-7 p.m. ET for the final round. Confirm the latest Golf Channel listing rather than relying on an unverified single time.
PGA Tour Radio is also scheduled during the tournament. The Tour’s event preview lists 2-7 p.m. ET Thursday through Saturday and 1-6 p.m. ET Sunday, although the separate media schedule also differs for Sunday.
2026 Mexico Open FAQs
When does the 2026 Mexico Open start?
The first competitive round is Thursday, October 29, 2026. The fourth and final round is scheduled for Sunday, November 1. Tournament-week activities begin earlier, on October 26.
Where is the 2026 Mexico Open played?
At Vidanta Vallarta in the Nuevo Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta resort area of Mexico’s Pacific coast. The 2026 PGA Tour setup is a par-71 course measuring 7,337 yards.
Who is the favorite to watch at the Mexico Open?
Wyndham Clark is the highest-ranked golfer in the field. Tony Finau, Tom Kim, Ben Griffin and defending champion Brian Campbell are also notable names. A pre-tournament favorite isn’t a guaranteed winner, particularly on a course with a substantially revised layout.
What is the winner’s prize at the 2026 Mexico Open?
The champion is scheduled to receive $1.08 million from the total $6 million purse. The winner also receives 500 FedExCup points under the applicable Tour rules.
Who won the Mexico Open in 2025?
Brian Campbell beat Aldrich Potgieter in a playoff after both finished 20 under par. Campbell returns in 2026 to defend the title.
What is different about the course in 2026?
Vidanta Vallarta has a new routing, redesigned holes and a 7,337-yard tournament setup. The 13th has become a drivable par 4, the 17th has a stadium-style setting, and the 18th uses the former first hole as the finish.
What to watch when the first round begins
Vidanta Vallarta’s new routing will test how quickly the field adjusts while the FedExCup Fall race tightens. Watch decisions at the drivable 13th, the finish across 17 and 18, and the players hovering around the top-100 eligibility line. Clark arrives as the leading name, but his place in the world golf ranking is only one part of this week’s story. The results on the redesigned layout will offer better evidence than last year’s winning score.