The final round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta began with Jon Rahm in the lead at 15 under par, two shots ahead of Cameron Champ and Kurt Kitayama. And there were a variety of reasons why most assumed it would end that way, too.
Rahm, No. 2 in the World Ranking, was the overwhelming favorite heading into the first-year PGA Tour event, and he held the outright lead or a share of it after every round. Meanwhile, the World Ranking of his pursers didn’t match up with the 27-year-old Spaniard; just one player within five shots of Rahm’s lead was ranked inside the top 100—No. 33 Patrick Reed.
Plus, there was also incentive. Since his last win a little more than 10 months ago at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Rahm had made 17 worldwide starts and had nine top-10 finishes, yet hasn’t added to the W column. It’s something Rahm undoubtedly wanted to rectify.
Rahm ultimately took care of business, even when it looked like he might not. A pedestrian two-under 69 on Sunday was enough to hold off Brandon Wu and Tony Finau, who both shot 63s to try to rally from way back, and Kitayama by one stroke.
Surprisingly, this was just the second time in seven tries that Rahm closed out the victory after holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead. The one previously time was the 2020 Memorial. (That count also includes when Rahm was leading the 2021 Memorial by six shots after 54 holes but had to WD when he tested positive for COVID.) Twenty First Group’s Justin Ray also noted on Twitter Saturday evening that since 2010, players who led by two through 54 holes on the PGA Tour go on to win 38.1 percent of the time. Moreover, just two of the last 14 to have led by two shots went on to win.
With the victory Rahm claimed a first-place prize money payout of $1.314 million from an overall purse of $7.3 million. Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer who made the cut this week in Mexico. Come back shortly after the conclusion of the tournament and we’ll have all the players listed along with their individual paydays.
T-2: Brandon Wu, 268/-16, $552,366.67
T-2: Tony Finau, 268/-16, $552,366.67
T-2: Kurt Kitayama, 268/-16, $552,366.66
5: Davis Riley, 269/-15, $299,300
T-6: Aaron Wise, 270/-14, $238,162.50
T-6: David Lipsky, 270/-14, $238,162.50
T-6: Alex Smalley, 270/-14, $238,162.50
T-6: Cameron Champ, 270/-14, $238,162.50
10: Patrick Rodgers, 271/-13, $198,925
T-11: Nate Lashley, 272/-12, $177,025
T-11: Martin Trainer, 272/-12, $177,025
T-13: Grayson Murray, 273/-11, $147,825
T-13: Chez Reavie, 273/-11, $147,825
T-15: Lanto Griffin, 274/-10, $104,187.23
T-15: Anirban Lahiri, 274/-10, $104,187.23
T-15: Jonathan Byrd, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-15: Stephan Jaeger, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-15: Satoshi Kodaira, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-15: Kelly Kraft, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-15: Adam Long, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-15: Peter Malnati, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-15: Andrew Novak, 274/-10, $104,187.22
T-24: Michael Gligic, 275/-9, $60,955
T-24: Trey Mullinax, 275/-9, $60,955
T-24: Aaron Rai, 275/-9, $60,955
T-24: Sahith Theegala, 275/-9, $60,955
T-24: Gary Woodland, 275/-9, $60,955
T-29: Ryan Blaum, 276/-8, $48,910
T-29: Hank Lebioda, 276/-8, $48,910
T-29: Sebastián Muñoz, 276/-8, $48,910
T-29: C.T. Pan, 276/-8, $48,910
T-33: Brice Garnett, 277/-7, $36,540.56
T-33: Emiliano Grillo, 277/-7, $36,540.56
T-33: Graeme McDowell, 277/-7, $36,540.56
T-33: Scott Piercy, 277/-7, $36,540.56
T-33: Greyson Sigg, 277/-7, $36,540.56
T-33: Wesley Bryan, 277/-7, $36,540.55
T-33: Doug Ghim, 277/-7, $36,540.55
T-33: Charles Howell III, 277/-7, $36,540.55
T-33: Cameron Tringale, 277/-7, $36,540.55
T-42: Abraham Ancer, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Robert Garrigus, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Brandon Hagy, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: John Huh, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Ben Kohles, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Kevin Na, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Alvaro Ortiz, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Patrick Reed, 278/-6, $23,287
T-42: Brian Stuard, 278/-6, $23,287
T-51: Scott Brown, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: Tommy Gainey, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: Lee Hodges, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: Mark Hubbard, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: Sung Kang, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: Carlos Ortiz, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: Turk Pettit, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-51: David Skinns, 279/-5, $17,355.75
T-59: Bill Haas, 280/-4, $16,498
T-59: Matt Jones, 280/-4, $16,498
T-61: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, 281/-3, $16,133
T-61: Hayden Buckley, 281/-3, $16,133
T-61: Callum Tarren, 281/-3, $16,133
T-64: Justin Lower, 282/-2, $15,768
T-64: Brendon Todd, 282/-2, $15,768
66: Pat Perez, 283/-1, $15,549
T-67: Wyndham Clark, 284/E, $15,111
T-67: D.A. Points, 284/E, $15,111
T-67: Austin Smotherman, 284/E, $15,111
T-67: Kevin Streelman, 284/E, $15,111
T-67: Matt Wallace, 284 E, $15,111
72: Bryson Nimmer, 285/+1, $14,673
73: Brett Drewitt, 288/+4, $14,527
74: Joshua Creel, 289/+5, $14,381
The best of Golf Digest delivered daily
Sign UpWill be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY