Venue: Vidanta Vallarta (also referred to as The Norman Course at Vidanta Vallarta / VidantaWorld Vallarta), in Nuevo Nayarit / Vallarta area, Nayarit, Mexico (Pacific coast near Puerto Vallarta).
This is the fifth of eight FedExCup Fall events and the first of two consecutive PGA Tour stops in Mexico (followed by the World Wide Technology Championship). The event has a $6 million purse ($1.08 million to the winner) and awards 500 FedExCup points to the champion. It features a 120-player field with a cut to the top 65 and ties after 36 holes.
Golf Channel provides primary TV coverage (Thursday–Saturday 4–7 p.m. ET; Sunday 3–6 p.m. ET), with PGA Tour Radio also available.
Venue and Course Details
Vidanta Vallarta is a Greg Norman design (opened in the mid-1970s / renovated over time) that has hosted the PGA Tour event since 2022. It plays as a par-71 at 7,337 yards this year (shortened from prior setups around 7,436 yards). The layout includes nine par-4s, five par-3s, and four par-5s, with Paspalum grass throughout (fairways, greens, rough, tees). Two holes come from the resort’s Nayar Course.
Key changes for 2026 include a full rerouting for better flow and fan experience (holes 18, 9, 1, and 10 clustered; stadium-style elements around 17). Notable updates: Hole 4 redesigned as a 423-yard par-4 (from a longer hole); Hole 13 now a drivable par-4; other par adjustments; and enhanced risk-reward elements on several holes (including rebuilds on 4, 8, 17, and 18). Fairways are relatively generous, rough is manageable (around 2.5 inches historically), and greens are large. The course favors length and birdie-making, with power players historically succeeding. Scoring has been low in past editions.
Course conditions: Expected to be soft due to pre-tournament storms, transitioning to firming conditions under sunny weather. Paspalum surfaces typically play consistent in this climate. Greens have historically run around 11.5 on the Stimpmeter in similar setups.
Starting Times
Round 1 (Thursday, Oct. 29) begins around 9:05 a.m. ET (local times earlier, as Mexico is in Mountain Time / CST range depending on exact zone) with split tees (1 and 10). Notable afternoon grouping: Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim, and defending champion Brian Campbell (around 2:18 p.m. ET). Full groupings are available via PGA Tour sources.
Weather Forecast (Puerto Vallarta / Nuevo Nayarit area)
Expect warm, mostly favorable conditions typical of the region in late October/early November.
Thursday (Oct. 29): Highs around 84–85°F (29–30°C), lows ~74°F; partly cloudy to mostly clear; low precipitation chance (~5–20%); light winds.
Friday–Sunday: Highs 85–86°F, similar lows; mostly clear/sunny; minimal rain chances (under 10%); light to moderate breezes. Humidity will be noticeable but playable. Pre-event storms should leave softer turf initially. Overall, excellent scoring conditions with limited wind impact expected.
Tournament History
Mexico’s national open dates to 1944 and was previously sanctioned by the PGA Tour in the 1950s–60s. It returned as an official PGA Tour event in 2022 at Vidanta Vallarta (previously on developmental/Latinoamérica tours at various venues). This is its first fall scheduling after prior February/spring dates.
Recent PGA Tour winners at Vidanta Vallarta:
2025: Brian Campbell (–20, playoff over Aldrich Potgieter) — first career PGA Tour win.
2024: Jake Knapp (–19).
2023: Tony Finau (–24; tournament 72-hole record of 260).
2022: Jon Rahm (–17).
No one has successfully defended the title in the PGA Tour era (Rahm finished runner-up the year after his win). Single-round record: 61 (Jon Rahm in 2023; Aldrich Potgieter in 2025). Winning scores have ranged from –17 to –24. The event continues a partnership with the Mexican Golf Federation.
Field, Player Matchups, and Recent Form
The 120-player field is solid for a Fall Series event but lacks the absolute top of the OWGR. Headliners include:
Wyndham Clark (world No. 5 / highest-ranked; three wins in 2026 including the U.S. Open and BMW Championship; strong approach play and putting). Third start here (T67 in 2022, T24 in 2023).
Tom Kim (recent Asian Games gold medalist; Genesis Scottish Open winner this year; returning after time away).
Ben Griffin (three-time Tour winner; strong recent form).
Tony Finau (2023 champion; seeking better form).
Brian Campbell (defending champion; limited recent play after a break, first Fall start; best 2026 finish T24 at the Masters).
Others of note: Max Homa, Corey Conners (T3 last week in Bermuda, big FedExCup jump), Aldrich Potgieter (2025 runner-up), Mexican players (Álvaro Ortiz and others), rising talents like Blades Brown, Ben James, Johnny Keefer, and amateurs including John Daly II.
Notable Round 1 groupings/matchups: Clark-Kim-Campbell stands out as a high-profile threesome. Other strong groups include Finau with Corey Conners and Max Homa; Ben Griffin with Andrew Novak and Joel Dahmen. The course’s length and birdie opportunities set up well for bombers and aggressive iron players. Many players are chasing FedExCup position for 2027 cards or Signature Event access (top 60).Recent form highlights: Clark has been elite overall in 2026. Conners arrives hot from Bermuda. Kim is fresh off international success. Campbell is returning from limited activity. Several Fall Series regulars (e.g., those from Bermuda) carry momentum into the softer, scoring-friendly setup.
Betting Trends
Distance and birdie average are key (course rewards power with wide fairways). Soft early conditions may favor approach precision and putting. Past winners and strong course history players (Finau, Campbell, Potgieter) draw interest. Value often appears on in-form Fall players or long hitters (e.g., Ghim has been cited in picks). Outright favorites are short relative to some models given Clark’s elite metrics, but the wide board reflects volatility in Fall events. Top-10/20 markets and first-round leader props are popular.
Expect low scoring if weather holds—winning totals in the –17 to –24 range historically. This week is pivotal for many on the FedExCup bubble as the season winds down. Coverage and live scoring are available via PGA Tour platforms and Golf Channel.
