Horses for Courses: Justin Lower Leads the Way in Paspalum Paydays

The 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld is set to take place on the Pacific coast, marking the fourth consecutive year that the Greg Norman-designed course hosts the event. Although the tournament has a new name this year, it continues to be a key stop on the PGA TOUR, attracting top talent from around the world.

A Look Back at 2024

Last year’s tournament saw rookie Jake Knapp (+4000) secure victory in just his ninth PGA TOUR start. Knapp led the field in several key statistical categories, including Birdies (25), Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, SG: Approach, Par-4 Scoring, and Par-3 Scoring. His dominant performance disrupted a pattern of veteran champions like Tony Finau and Jon Rahm winning in Mexico. Knapp’s rounds of 64 and 63 helped him establish a four-shot lead heading into the final day, ultimately finishing two strokes ahead of runner-up Sami Valimaki (+7500).

Top Contenders for 2025

Patrick Rodgers (+2200) enters his fourth start at VidantaWorld with an impressive track record. The Stanford alum has never finished worse than T10 in his three previous visits. Despite not breaking the 70-stroke mark in any of his rounds, he has maintained an average tournament score of 13-under-par, boasting a scoring average of 67.75.

Another name to watch is Stephan Jaeger (+2500), who has demonstrated steady improvement at this course. With top finishes of T18, T15, and T3 in his past appearances, Jaeger’s scoring average of 68.08 makes him a strong candidate for a high finish in 2025.

Top Performers on Paspalum Grass

For the first time this season, the tournament will be played on Paspalum grass, which favors certain players who have excelled on similar surfaces in the past. Justin Lower (+6500) is one such player, having posted his best results on TOUR at courses featuring Paspalum greens. Lower finished third at VidantaWorld in 2024, following a T4 finish at another Paspalum event earlier in the season.

Carson Young (+7500) has also adapted well to this playing surface. He finished T8 at VidantaWorld last year and has compiled 39 birdies over two years of competition. His strong accuracy off the tee, ranking in the top five in Fairways Hit in both prior starts, makes him a potential breakout candidate this year.

Key Stats for Success

• Every past champion has ranked in the top two in Bogey Avoidance.

• All previous winners have finished in the top four in Ball Striking and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.

• The resort-style course offers wide fairways and large greens, averaging over 7,000 square feet.

• Wind conditions affect play in the afternoons, but the greens will not exceed 11 feet on the Stimpmeter.

Notable Longshots

• Sami Valimaki (+22000): Finished solo second in 2024 and ranked second in Putts per GIR.

• Kurt Kitayama (+2000): Finished second in the tournament’s inaugural edition with 23 birdies and an eagle.

• Akshay Bhatia (+1400): Made a strong impression in 2023, posting 22 birdies and finishing fourth.

• Erik van Rooyen (+6000): Opened with rounds of 64 and 63 in past tournaments, finishing T8 and T33.

With a mix of established veterans and rising stars, the 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld promises another thrilling competition. Keep an eye on those with strong Paspalum track records as they look to capitalize on favorable conditions this week.