Golf’s Mexico Open Begins: Can Knapp Defend His Title?

VALLARTA, Mexico — The 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld officially kicks off Thursday, February 20, featuring a competitive field of 132 players. Defending champion Jake Knapp aims to replicate his success from last year when he secured his first PGA Tour victory.

Knapp, who is returning to Mexico after a T17 finish at the Genesis Invitational, expressed excitement about defending his title. “I’m feeling good and ready for the challenge this week. Last year’s win was a turning point for me, and I hope to build on that momentum,” he said.

The Mexico Open, a $7 million event, serves as a crucial stop on the PGA Tour schedule, providing players with an opportunity to earn valuable FedExCup points. This week’s tournament also grants players a path to qualify for the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational through the Aon Swing 5.

Golf fans will be eager to tune in as the opening round features a marquee group made up of Emiliano Grillo, Davis Riley, and Matt McCarty, who will start their tournament at 9:03 a.m. ET. Grillo looks to enhance his consistent early-season play, having showed promise in prior tournaments.

Alongside Knapp in the afternoon wave at 1:43 p.m. ET will be Aaron Rai and Stephan Jaeger, creating a compelling pairing. Rising talent Akshay Bhatia will also compete in the spotlight, teeing off shortly after at 1:54 p.m. ET.

For viewers eager to watch the tournament, Golf Channel will broadcast live coverage from 4-7 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday, with expanded weekend coverage on NBC. Early birds can catch daily coverage on PGA Tour Live via ESPN+, starting at 9:15 a.m. ET.

As the tournament unfolds at the challenging Vidanta Vallarta course, fans are curious to see if Knapp can withstand the pressure and establish himself as a consistent top contender on the PGA Tour. “The course is beautiful, but it’s also unforgiving,” Knapp noted. “I have to stay focused and take it shot by shot.”

According to PGA Tour statistics, each player has a unique opportunity to shine this week, with notable groupings positioned to create excitement on the course. Fans are encouraged to track their favorite players and engage in the drama that the Mexico Open promises.