Andrew Novak wins Mexico Open by five shots with tournament-record 25-under for first solo PGA Tour title
Andrew Novak closed with a 69 at Vidanta Vallarta to finish 25 under and win by five, setting a 72-hole record for the event. It is his first individual PGA Tour win.
Andrew Novak turned a big 54-hole lead into his first individual PGA Tour title on Sunday, winning the VidantaWorld Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta by five shots. The American closed with a two-under 69 to finish at 25-under 259. Steven Fisk and Kristoffer Ventura tied for second at 20 under.
A record week at Vidanta Vallarta
Novak's rounds of 67, 61, 62 and 69 broke the tournament's 72-hole scoring record of 260, which Tony Finau set in 2023. His five-shot winning margin is also the largest in the event's history. His 61 in the second round put him in front, and he kept building from there.
It is Novak's second PGA Tour win and his first on his own, in his 140th start. His other title came with Ben Griffin in the team event at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Griffin finished tied fourth this week.
Nerves on the back nine, then a birdie run
Novak started Sunday six ahead, but a bogey on the 10th cut his lead to three and gave the chasers some hope. He answered with three birdies in a row on the 12th, 13th and 14th, which ended any chance of a collapse. Fisk and Ventura both shot 63 on Sunday, but neither could get closer than five.
Leaderboard
- Andrew Novak, -25 (259) T2. Steven Fisk, Kristoffer Ventura, -20 T4. Mackenzie Hughes, Ben Griffin, -19 T6. Erik van Rooyen, Brian Campbell, Tom Kim, Pierceson Coody, Doug Ghim, -18
What the win means in the FedEx Cup Fall
The Mexico Open was part of the FedEx Cup Fall, where players fight to keep or improve their status for next season. Novak earned 500 points and moved from 89th to 53rd in the standings. That almost certainly gets him into early Signature Events next year at Pebble Beach and Riviera. The win also gives him a two-season tour exemption.
There were important moves further down as well. Ventura went from 108th to 76th, which secures his card for 2027, since the top 100 keep full status. Fisk rose from 70th to 54th. Hughes moved from 118th to 101st, just one place outside the top 100 with events still to come.
Further down the leaderboard, Tom Kim's tie for sixth was another solid week for the South Korean, who is well known to golf fans across Asia.
For fans in Malaysia, Sunday's final round on Mexico's Pacific coast ended early on Monday morning local time.
Key takeaways
- Novak won by five at 25-under 259, a new 72-hole record for the Mexico Open.
- It is his first individual PGA Tour title, in his 140th start.
- A bogey on the 10th cut his lead to three, but birdies on 12, 13 and 14 sealed the win.
- Ventura's tie for second lifts him to 76th in the FedEx Cup and secures his 2027 card.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Mexico Open? Andrew Novak won at 25 under par, five shots ahead of Steven Fisk and Kristoffer Ventura.
What record did Novak break? His 259 total beat Tony Finau's 2023 tournament record of 260, and his five-shot margin is the largest in the event's history.
How many PGA Tour titles has Andrew Novak won? Two. This is his first individual win, after the 2025 Zurich Classic team title with Ben Griffin.
Sources: PGA Tour, Golf Today, Golf Channel, CBS Sports