After finishing runner-up to Jon Rahm in 2022, Tony Finau has used rounds of 65-64 to take the 36-hole lead at the Mexico Open at Vidanta.
Finau made eight birdies around Vidanta Vallarta on Friday, including two stretches of three in a row — Nos. 16, 17 and 18 (his seventh, eighth and ninth of the day) and Nos. 5, 6, and 7.
“After 36 holes I’m playing nicely, find myself at the top,” he said when asked about his confidence level after two rounds. “With my experience, we’re only halfway, there’s so much golf to be played. You always want to say that you have what it takes to win a golf tournament. I think luckily for me, I’ve done that a few times over the last year, but every week has its own challenges, every day has its own challenges, so this is not a time to get ahead of myself.”
Finau (13 under) leads Erik van Rooyen and Brandon Wu by one stroke.
If you missed any of Friday’s action south of the border, no worries, we have you covered. Here are some highlights from the second round of the Mexico Open.
Mexico Open: Photos
Jon Rahm is lurking on the leaderboard
The defending champion is just close enough to the lead to put the players on top on notice.
Rahm opened his second round with five straight pars before draining a 42-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 sixth. After making birdie on No. 7, the Spaniard made double bogey on the par-3 ninth thanks to a water ball on his first tee shot.
He’d drop another shot on No. 10 before adding circles to the card on Nos. 11, 12, and 14.
Another square came at the 16th but he got it right back on the par-5 closing hole to sign for a 3-under day. He’s 7 under through two rounds and six back on Finau.
Although there’s some distance between the two players, Rahm is the second betting favorite behind Finau (-125) at +700.
Cameron Champ bouncing back
Champ’s last made cut came at the Farmers Insurance Open. For those who don’t know, that’s in January.
So far, it hasn’t been the season Champ was hoping for. However, thanks to starting with rounds of 68-66, he’s 8 under through 36 holes and firmly in contention sitting just five back of Finau.
This isn’t the first time Champ has had success at Vidanta Villarata as he finished sixth last season.
This track is a bomber’s paradise and so far Champ has taken advantage of that. He’s third in driving distance through two rounds — 343.5 yards — and has hit 20 of 26 fairways which is good enough for T-17 in the field.
Champ was featured in our five bets to consider piece earlier this week where we had him for a top 40 at +140. We’ll see if he can hold on over the weekend to cash that ticket.
Shot of the day
Making his PGA Tour debut, Raul Pereda holed out for an eagle from 249 yards (the longest hole out on Tour this year) on the 511-yard par-4 16th, his seventh of the day.
Pereda is 7 under for the tournament, T-12.
Eagle hole-out from 249 yards!! 🤯@RaulP96 is making the most of his TOUR debut @MexicoOpenGolf 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WX0SuUMaey
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 28, 2023
Saturday's weather forecast
Saturday is going to be a perfect day for golf. According to Windy.com, the temperature is expected to reach the mid 80s with winds under five MPH.
