Erik van Rooyen of South Africa plays a shot on the first hole during the pro-am prior to the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
RG's "Fairway Focus" is a weekly look at golf's major tours. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights. This week, Elliott previews the PGA TOUR in Mexico, the LPGA in Thailand, and reviews the week that was in TGL.
PGA TOUR Preview: A Trip South of the Border
The PGA TOUR returns after an exciting week at Torrey Pines with the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld. Located along the stunning coastline, Vidanta Vallarta features a challenging course with picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean. The 7,436-yard layout, designed by Greg Norman, plays to a par of 71. Tony Finau set the tournament record in 2023, shooting an impressive 24-under par 260, winning by three shots over John Rahm.
Field Highlights: Meet Jake Knapp and Other Contenders
Defending champion Jake Knapp will be in the field and looking to back up last year's victory, his first on the PGA TOUR. While making the cut in five of his six starts this year, Knapp has only had one event finishing inside the top 20, with a T17 at last week's Genesis Invitational. With Knapp being the defending champ, it is a given that he will be one to watch this week.
According to oddsmakers, others to watch include Akshay Bhatia, Stephan Jaeger, and Justin Lower. Bhatia, the 30th-ranked player in the OWGR, is a two-time PGA TOUR winner and has made the cut in all four of his starts this season with a best finish of a tie for 9th last week at the Genesis. Akshay's previous start in Mexico was in 2023, where he finished solo 4th. Stephan Jaeger, who finished 43rd in the FedEx Cup final standings last season, was one of 15 first-time winners in 2024 by claiming the Texas Children's Houston Open. Jaeger has made four of five cuts this season with a T3 at The Sony Open. Justin Lower, who had five top 10s in 2024, including a runner-up finish at the World Wide Technology Championship, has made three or four starts this year with a T3 at The American Express.
As the week unfolds in Mexico, as it does every week on the PGA TOUR, plenty of compelling storylines will likely surface. Whether a rookie, a first-time winner, or a long-time fan favorite is having a breakout performance, the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld will be well worth watching.
TGL: Four Matches in Two Days...And it's a 199-yards Tiger, 199...
With the President's Day Holiday this past Monday, fans of TGL were in for a treat with a triple header. While the jury is still out for many on the new upstart league, there is certainly a different and, at times, exciting vibe while watching TGL matches...especially when drama is involved.
In the lead-off 1:00 match, there was plenty of drama indeed. Superstars Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel, and Patrick Cantlay, this week's lineup for the Atlanta Drive crew, triumphed 6-5 over Los Angeles in a thrilling overtime victory. Atlanta trailed 5-2 after Triples but came roaring back to force a playoff, largely due to JT's chip-in on the 15th hole of regulation. On the first playoff chip-off hole, Atlanta's Billy Horschel put his shot just inside Justin Rose's bid for LA. The second playoff hole saw what was probably the shot of the season so far when LA's Tommy Fleetwood holed out from roughly 30 yards to take that hole. And on the final playoff hole, Cantlay sealed the deal, sticking his shot to five feet.
The great vibes from that thriller didn't last long, as Atlanta's next outing against The Bay in the 4:00 match was less favorable but no less exciting. Despite their previous success, Atlanta fell short against a powerful team performance by The Bay, spurred on by the hot hand of Ludvig Aberg, who, less than 24 hours before his match at the SoFi Center, won at Torrey Pines. Min Woo Lee thrived in his debut for LA, and teammate Wyndham Clark was also solid throughout the match. The Bay Golf Club scored a 6-5 victory over Atlanta in the day's second showdown.
Continuing their impressive form, The Bay defeated Boston Common 5-4 in another scintillating match, which rounded out the day's tripleheader. Aberg and Clark would be joined by Shane Lowry in this second match of their day. This time, facing off against Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, and Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley, The Bay demonstrated strategic superiority and hit tremendous shots under pressure en route to their one-point win.
With three outstanding matches on Monday, the stage was set for Tuesday's match, pitting Tiger Woods Jupiter Links against Rickie Fowler and crew from NY Golf Club. In what would turn out to be a blowout 10-3 win for New York, the real buzz from Tuesday was the blunder from the GOAT, Tiger Woods, on the 13th hole. In a bit of miscommunication, Woods thought his team said he had 99 yards when, in reality, he had 199 yards. His beautiful wedge shot left him just under 80 yards in for his third on the par four.
"One of the most embarrassing moments of my golf career just happened,” Woods said with a big smile after his snafu.
The current standings shape up like this as TGL moves into week seven (first four make the playoffs).
- The Bay Golf Club 6-3-3
- Los Angeles Golf Club 5-3-2
- Atlanta Drive GC 4-3-2
- New York Golf Club 2-3-1
- Jupiter Links GC 2-3-1
- Boston Common Golf 1-3-0
Next week's matches include:
Monday 24th
- LA vs. NY (5:00 p.m)
- Boston vs. Atlanta (9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday 25th
- The Bay vs. Jupiter Links (9:00 p.m.)
LPGA Tour Preview: The Start of a Three-Week Asian Swing
Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, will again play host to the Honda LPGA Thailand. This event marks the start of a three-week Asian swing for the ladies circuit. Following this week, the HSBC Women’s World Championship will be played in Singapore, and the week following will round out the LPGA's trip through the Far East at the Blue Bay LPGA in the People’s Republic of China. The 18th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand will see a limited field of 72 players competing for a total purse of $1.7 million.
Path to Victory: Who Will Stand Out?
Patty Tavatanakit, a local favorite hailing from Thailand, aims to leverage her familiarity with the course and defend her title this week. Last year, her victory came just a week after a win on the Ladies European Tour, which snapped a winless three-year drought. Her win at last year's Honda was an understandably emotional one, being on home soil, and those good vibes that helped lift her to the win in 2024 will surely be there this week. No doubt, Tavatanakit will be a name to watch throughout the week.
Other players to watch this week include past champions Lilia Vu, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Ariya Jutanugarn, Amy Yang, and Anna Nordqvist. Yealimi Noh and A Lim Kim, both notching wins early this season, are, without a doubt, some notable names to watch. Jin Young Ko, Celine Boutier, Jennifer Kupcho, and Yuka Saso are good bets to see in contention come Sunday as well.
As the LPGA Tour embarks on this exciting three-week trip through Asia, you can expect dramatic storylines, outstanding performances, and, as is the case each week in the professional ranks, some inevitable surprises. With the vibrant backdrop of Thailand and the anticipation of the upcoming events in Singapore and China, this swing promises to deliver unforgettable moments as the LPGA continues on through its 75th Anniversary season.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
