Golf might be the hardest sport to predict.
This week’s Vidanta Mexico Open, however, was different.
You had two players head and shoulders ahead of the rest.
At least on paper.
Tony Finau has blossomed into a proper closer in what can only be described as a true plot twist.
Those two were the highest-ranked players in the field by a wide marginafter Finau’s pre-tournament ranking of No.
16, the highest-ranked player in the field was world No.
Next-closest was Wyndham Clark at +2100.
But again, that’s just on paper.
Very seldom does that actual tournament reflect what the algorithms forecasted.
This was one of those times.
And he never blinked.
And he’s been an elite iron player for a half-decade now.
That’s no longer a relevant topic, as he’s added four more since that 2021 Northern Trust.
“I learned a lot in those (near-misses),” Finau said Monday.
Guys are going to make birdies.
There’s so many great players, especially someone of Rahmbo’s stature, Brandon Wu played amazing today.
So you’ve got some of these guys that can go on these birdie runs.
“So my mindset on Sundays I think has just changed.
You never get comfortable with the lead.
That’s my nature anyway is to be an aggressive player.
A win is a win.
Still, we can’t ignore that Finau’s Ws have come on easier-than-average PGA Tour layouts.
These aren’t exactly major-championship quality layouts that he’s dominating at.
Finau, it should be noted, doesn’t seem to concerned with any of that.
The golfers…they are rich
Jon Rahm’s historic season continues full-steam ahead.
That says a few things about the world No.
Second, he’s not exactly low on cash.
With his solo second in Mexico, Rahm has now made $14,465,840 in official money for the season.
That’s a new PGA Tour record.
And he set it before May 1.
Now, as mentioned previously, Rahm’s absolutely on a historic pace.
But it’s not like his current season is head-and-shoulders above any other season.
At 28 years old, he’s already 12th in all-time PGA tour earnings.
The craziest part is how much lucrative golf there is left to be played.
He’s not the only one eating good.
Rahm refused to speak negatively about Mickelson when that was a popular thing to do last year.
Friends helping out friends.
It was, in the words of Alan from the Hangover, a classic mixup.
One of those players was Alejandro Tosti, who finished a very solid T22 despite the setback.
Tosti then headed from Florida to Mexico for this week’s Vidanta Mexico Open.
That’s golf’s version of Ball Don’t Lie.
It’s also a preview of what’s to come next season.
“I’m not worried about it,” Tosti said of the exemption after his round Sunday.
“if it’s meant to happen, it’s going to happen.
I’m happy that I’m able to have the opportunity to show my game at this level.
Elsewhere…
A true statistical oddity at the Mexico Open.
Last year, the top three players on the leaderboard were Jon Rahm, Tony Finau and Brandon Wu.
This year, the top three players on the leaderboard were Jon Rahm, Tony Finau and Brandon Wu.
He’s now gone WIN, T2, T3 in his last three events.
Pablo Larrazabal won the DP World Tour event this past week, the Korea Championship.
It didn’t have any juice at all.
Hardly any fans, hardly any players whose names you’d recognize.
It’s hard not to see the future of the DPWT as bleak.
He’ll surely be asked about his absence this week.
I’ll do it myself if I have to.
Bhatia’s also in the field this week.
With 261 points, he leads non-suspended members in the non-member FedEx Cup points list.
(In first place are Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, from their T2s at the Masters).
Until next time,
Dan
