Andrew Novak, first PGA Tour victory after 140 tournaments
Andrew Novak wins the VidantaWorld Mexico Open and celebrates his first individual victory on the PGA Tour. The American finished the tournament at Vidanta Vallarta with a total of 259 strokes (-25), a new tournament record, thanks to a final round of 69 (-2). It was a decisive victory, secured with a five-stroke lead over his closest competitors, rewarding the 31-year-old after 140 starts on the top American tour.
Novak had already secured the win by the end of the first three days, building a six-stroke lead thanks mainly to an extraordinary 61—which tied the course record—and a subsequent 62. In the final round, he had to manage his opponents’ comeback and a lead that, after a bogey on the 10th hole, had shrunk to three strokes. His response came at the decisive moment, with three consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 14 that ultimately sealed the tournament.
On the 12th hole, a par 5, Novak hit a spectacular shot from the bunker, placing the ball about one meter from the hole. On the 13th, he then hit the green directly from the tee with his drive, stopping five meters from the hole, while on the 14th he sank a putt from over 13 meters. An extraordinary run that allowed him to secure the victory, despite another bogey on the 17th.
“That stretch of holes settled everything. I’m happy with how I played today,” commented the winner, pleased to have finally claimed an individual title. His list of achievements already included a victory alongside Ben Griffin at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team tournament that did not, however, count as an individual win.
Steven Fisk and Kristoffer Ventura finished in a tie for second place, both shooting an excellent 63 in the final round to reach -20. For Ventura, who was born in Mexico but holds Norwegian citizenship, the finish holds special significance for the future: thanks to this result, he climbed from 108th to 76th place in the FedExCup Fall standings, securing a full card for the 2027 PGA Tour.
