PGA Tour
MEXICO OPEN AT VIDANTAWORLD
Location: Vallarta, Mexico.
Course: Vallarta Vidanta. Length: 7,436 yards. Par: 71.
Total Prize Money: $7 million. Winner’s portion: $1.26 million.
Broadcast Schedule: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC).
Last year’s champion: Jake Knapp.
Current FedEx Cup leader: Ludvig Aberg, who recently clinched victory at the Genesis Invitational.
Key Information: Even though the Mexico Open is situated on the western side of the Americas, it marks the commencement of NBC’s golf broadcasting leading up to the Masters. Aaron Rai, ranked No. 29, represents the highest-ranked player here among just four from the top 50 in a 132-player lineup. The tournament also includes six sponsor exemptions aimed at Latin American competitors, featuring Alvaro Ortiz, a previous Latin American Amateur champion and the younger brother of Carlos Ortiz. Notable entrants also include Padraig Harrington, who participated in three events on the European tour earlier this season. The tournament winner is granted an invitation to the Masters, with only 11 competitors in the field already secured a spot, which includes two amateurs, U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester and Latin American Amateur champion Justin Hastings. Additionally, the latest teenage professional, Blades Brown, has received another exemption despite missing the cut at The American Express.
Upcoming Event: Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
LPGA Tour
HONDA LPGA THAILAND
Location: Chonburi, Thailand.
Course: Siam CC (Old). Length: 6,632 yards. Par: 72.
Total Prize Money: $1.7 million. Winner’s share: $255,000.
Broadcast Schedule: Wednesday-Thursday, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Last year’s champion: Patty Tavatanakit.
Current Race to CME Globe leader: A Lim Kim, who recently won the Founders Cup.
Insights: The Honda LPGA Thailand kicks off the initial swing in Asia for the LPGA Tour, which will also include legs in Singapore and China, with another swing scheduled for the fall. Seven of the top ten ranked players in tennis are competing in Thailand, although it’s notable that the top two—Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko—are not participating. Previous LPGA season winners, A Lim Kim and Yealimi Noh, will be part of the event. The roster also features Japanese twin sisters Akie and Chisato Iwai, who secured LPGA cards last year, and they are playing on sponsor exemptions. Another exemption goes to Gianna Clemente, who made headlines at age 14 by qualifying for three consecutive LPGA events. Tavatanakit’s win last year made her the second Thai player after Ariya Jutanugarn to triumph on home soil.
Upcoming Event: HSBC Women’s World Championship.
European Tour
MAGICAL KENYA OPEN
Location: Nairobi, Kenya.
Course: Muthaiga GC. Length: 7,208 yards. Par: 71.
Total Prize Money: $2.5 million. Winner’s share: $416,667.
Broadcast Schedule: Thursday-Friday, 5-10 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 4:30-9 a.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 4-9 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Darius Van Driel.
Current Race to Dubai leader: Tyrrell Hatton.
Highlights: The Magical Kenya Open marks the first of three consecutive tournaments on African soil. No competitors from the top 100 of the world rankings are in attendance. Haotong Li, fresh from his victory at the Qatar Masters, is a highlighted player. Brandon Wu, Troy Merritt, and Callum Tarren are competing under a category that allocates spots to PGA Tour players who were ranked between 126 to 200 in the previous year’s FedEx Cup. The Kenya Open has been a European Tour fixture for six years after previously being included in the Challenge Tour since 1991. Noteworthy past champions include Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, and Trevor Immelman. Remarkably, no American player has won the Kenya Open since its inception in 1967, originally a part of the Safari Circuit. Tyrrell Hatton holds his position at the top of the Race to Dubai following his win at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Upcoming Event: Investec South African Open Championship.
LIV Golf League
Week Summary: Joaquin Niemann secured victory at LIV Golf Adelaide last week.
Next Event: LIV Golf Hong Kong scheduled for March 7-9.
Points leader: Adrian Meronk.
PGA Tour Champions
Week Summary: Justin Leonard emerged victorious at the Chubb Classic last week.
Next Event: Cologuard Classic set for March 7-9.
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Ernie Els.
Korn Ferry Tour
Last Tournament: Kyle Westmoreland won the Panama Championship.
Upcoming Event: Visa Argentina Open scheduled for February 27 to March 2.
Points leader: Hank Lebioda.
Other Tours
Sunshine Tour: Hyundai Open at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club (East), Johannesburg. Defending Champion: New tournament.
PGA Tour of Australasia: Webex Players Series Sydney at Castle Hill Country Club, Norwest, Australia. Previous winner: Kazuma Kobori.
