Brian Campbell received a huge slice of luck during the second playoff hole to claim the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld and a first PGA Tour title over Aldrich Potgieter.
In regulation play, the leaderboard changed regularly throughout on Sunday, with the likes of Aaron Rai, Isaiah Salinda and Ben Griffin challenging over the final 18 holes.
However, at the end of play, following birdies from both at the 72nd hole, it was Campbell and Potgieter who managed to get to 20-under and force a playoff at Vidanta Vallarta.
At the first playoff hole, both had opportunities to take the win, but both missed makeable birdie putts as we headed back down the par 5 18th for a second playoff hole.
Throughout the round, Potgieter had been comfortably outdriving his opponent and, at the 18th, it was advantage to the South African as he found the short grass once again.
What followed, though, can only be described as one of the luckiest breaks in golf, with Campbell's tee shot destined for the out of bounds, it clattered into the trees and, miraculously, came out into the rough.
From there, Campbell laid up to his favorite yardage and, after Potgieter found the greenside bunker, the American stuck his wedge to near gimme range as Campbell made the most of his huge break.
Splashing out, Potgieter had six-feet for birdie but, pulling his putt, it left Campbell to tap-in for the biggest win of his career and a victory that will no doubt change his life.
Mexico Open at VidantaWorld Leaderboard 2025
- -20 CAMPBELL (won at second playoff hole)
- -20 POTGIETER
- -19 SALINDA
- -18 RAI, GRIFFIN
Updates from...
WELCOME ALL
Hello all, and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, which is set-up for a thrilling conclusion as nine players sit within four shots of the leaders.
BRIAN CAMPBELL LEADS
Finishing off their front nines, Aldrich Potgieter misses the green to the left at the par 3 ninth and, playing his chip, fires it well past the hole. He is unable to hole his par putt and moves back to 18-under.
In terms of Campbell, he also misses left but manages to roll his putt up to gimme range for par. He takes the outright lead at 19-under, one ahead of Potgieter and Aaron Rai, who has a lengthy birdie putt coming up at the par 4 10th.
POOR SHOTS INTO THE 10TH
Potgieter finds the rough off the tee on the long par 4 10th and, with his second, he comes up well short of the green and in a pretty gnarly lie. It's a similar story for Campbell who, from 240-yards, is well short of the green with a fairway wood. Both will have work to do to make par.
Up ahead, Alex Smalley will have a good look for birdie at the par 3 11th following a classy approach. He would move to 18-under, alongside Potgieter and Rai, who also puts it close at the par 3 11th.
RAI MOVES TO 19-UNDER
The Englishman is enjoying a fine round on Sunday and, at the par 3 11th, he rolls in his birdie putt at dead weight to get to 19-under and into a share of the lead. He is five-under for his round and playing some great golf.
Back at the 10th, Potgieter plays yet another poor chip shot but holes a delightful par putt to remain at 18-under and avoid a third straight bogey. Alongside Potgieter, Campbell plays a delightful chip and taps in for a par to remain at 19-under.
PARS AT THE 11TH
Both Campbell and Potgieter find the green at the par 3 11th but see their efforts just slide by. They remain at 19 and 18-under and, with the par 5 12th coming up, will have a good chance to gain some momentum over the final stretch.
Up ahead, Isaiah Salinda birdies the 12th to get to 17-under and into a share of fourth alongside Smalley. What's more, Salinda then produces a fine approach at the par 3 13th and will have a good look for back-to-back gains.
HUGE DRIVE FROM POTGIETER
He's the longest driver on the PGA Tour and, at the par 5 12th, Potgieter hits a monster tee shot of 364-yards! He will have 280 into the green and a chance to go at the flag.
Ahead on the green, Rai plays a decent pitch from a poor lie, but his birdie putt is always right and he taps in for par to remain at 19-under.
HERO-TO-ZERO
Campbell is forced to lay-up at the par 5 12th but, from 76 yards, the American clips an impressive pitch to just four-feet.
In the group, Potgieter almost holes his third shot for eagle and taps in for birdie to get to 19-under, but it's disaster for Campbell, who fails to convert his birdie and remains at 19-under.
SALINDA TO 18-UNDER
Salinda is a man in-form right now and, at the par 5 14th, he plays a classy chip to inches and taps in for birdie. That's three birdies in four holes and he is within one shot at 18-under.
CAMPBELL TAKES THE LEAD
After a short missed birdie putt at the par 5 12th, Campbell plays a delightful approach at the par 3 13th to 12-feet. Watching Potgieter miss his lengthy birdie putt, Campbell steps up and rams his birdie putt home to get to 20-under, which is the outright lead.
PAR FOR RAI
The Englishman started off really well but has dwindled slightly. At the par 5 13th, Rai hits driver off the deck and finishes left of the green, with a tricky chip coming up.
From the rough, he gets a flier and finishes in the middle of the green, with his birdie putt missing to the right side. He taps in for par and remains at 19-under.
POTGIETER MOVES TO 20-UNDER
Leader, Campbell, plays a poor approach into the par 5 14th and fails to hole his birdie putt. He stays at 20-under and is joined by Potgieter, who rolls in an uphill putt to share the lead.
BIG MISTAKE FROM POTGIETER
His short game has been hit-and-miss today and, at the par 4 15th, the South African's chip doesn't make it up the hill and rolls back to his feet. Although Potgieter plays a good second chip, that will be a dropped shot for the 20-year-old.
In terms of the leader, Campbell, he's played another classy wedge shot into the green and, from 15-feet, just misses his birdie. He rolls in for par and remains in front as the final group heads to the hardest hole on the course.
BOGEY FOR RAI
He was, arguably, the favorite going into the back nine, but Rai has just bogeyed the par 4 16th to drop back to 18-under and two back of Campbell. You feel he'll need to birdie the final two holes to have a chance of lifting the trophy.
TIED AT THE TOP
Campbell's second shot finishes well short of the green and, after Potgieter finds the centre of the dance floor, Campbell needs to get up-and-down to maintain his slim advantage.
Stepping up, the American hits his chip but it checks up and is around 20-feet short. In terms of Potgieter, the South African lags his putt up for the par and, after Campbell misses his attempt, they are tied at the top at 19-under.
RAI BOGEYS 17
I said he needed to birdie coming in, but Rai can't get up-and-down at the par 3 17th. He drops back into a four-way share of third at 17-under and will not claim a second PGA Tour title.
Back in the final group, Potgieter hits a very aggressive shot that carries the water and leaves a nice upcoming chip at the 17th. Campbell takes out a 7-wood and flushes it at the flag, with the ball coming to rest 20-feet away from the hole.
BIRDIE FOR SALINDA
Excellent golf from Salinda, who birdies the 18th hole to get into a share of the lead at 19-under-par. That is the clubhouse target and he will now wait to see if it's enough.
POTGIETER ALMOST CHIPS IN
His chipping hasn't been great today, but Potgieter almost holes his shot at the 17th for birdie! Clipping his chip, the ball slides by the left side and leaves a tap-in for par. He remains 19-under.
CAMPBELL COMES UP SHORT
After a stunning approach into the 17th, Campbell leaves his birdie putt short of the hole. He taps in for par and heads down the 18th in a share of the lead with Potgieter and Salinda.
ADVANTAGE CAMPBELL
Although he is significantly shorter off the tee than Potgieter, it's advantage Campbell, who finds the fairway at the 18th. Potgieter has pushed his tee shot right and will struggle to get to the green, while Campbell is safely on the short grass.
GRIFFIN AND RAI FINISH 18-UNDER
Both Ben Griffin and Rai birdie the final hole to get to 18-under and into a share of fourth. Both looked disappointed and, arguably, could have challenged for the win over the back nine.
POTGIETER AND CAMPBELL MISS THE 18TH GREEN
It's Campbell up first at the 18th and, from the fairway, he pulls his wood left and will have a treacherous up-and-down for birdie. In terms of Potgieter, he finds the bunker short of the green, but will have the easier up-and-down coming up.
CAMPBELL AND POTGIETER HEAD FOR A PLAYOFF
Great short game on show from Campbell and Potgieter, who both make up-and-down for birdies at the 18th to get to 20-under and force a playoff. Clutch from both there at the 72nd hole.
HOW THE PLAYOFF WILL WORK
72 holes was not enough 😳Aldrich Potgieter and Brian Campbell are heading to a playoff @MexicoOpenGolf.PLAYOFF HOLES: 18, 18, and then 17, 18 repeated. pic.twitter.com/mMKISB9y7LFebruary 23, 2025
ADVANTAGE POTGIETER
Both men are on the tee and, with the first tee shots it's advantage Potgieter, who finds the right side of the fairway. In terms of Campbell, he is in the left rough and will be first to hit into the green.
DRAMA AT 18
Campbell is first up and, with his trusty 7-wood, the American comes up short and in the greenside bunker. It seems to be advantage Potgieter but, from the middle of the fairway, the 20-year-old pulls his shot miles left! That was very out of character from Potgieter, who is now on the back foot.
CAMPBELL IS CLOSER AFTER THREE
Both have drawn great lies and first up is Potgieter, who puts his pitch to around 15-feet. It opens the door for Campbell, whose bunker shot releases but not enough. He'll have around 10-feet for birdie.
BOTH MISS FOR BIRDIE
Potgieter gives his birdie putt a run and it comes up fractionally short. He taps in for par and it is now up to Campbell to get the win. Lining up his 13-footer for birdie, he comes off the ball at address and resets himself, but his putt drifts right and we are going back up the 18th.
THE DRAMA
Checking in on Campbell's girlfriend and Potgieter's dad.Both players are seeking their first career PGA TOUR win.Scenes! pic.twitter.com/XW3VDiLjNiFebruary 23, 2025
AWAY WE GO AND THERE'S DRAMA OFF THE TEE
We're back on the 18th and up first is Potgieter, who carves his drive left-to-right and finds the right side of the fairway.
Up next is Campbell and his tee shot is MILES right! It's heading for the out of bounds but, miraculously, it hits the trees and kicks back in bounds! Huge drama here at the second playoff hole.
APPROACH AT 18
After hitting the trees with his tee shot, Campbell is 313-yards from the flag and nearly 100-yards behind Potgieter. The American is forced to lay-up and, after finding the fairway, it's Potgieter's turn to hit into the green.
Faced with 218-yards to the flag, Potgieter hits a high ball that is all over the target, but it somehow comes up short. The 20-year-old loved it in the air, but it has found the bunker short of the green, the same one he was in in regulation play.
HUGE BREAK AT 18
Luckiest break ever?!Brian Campbell's ball bounces off the trees and stays in bounds on the second playoff hole! pic.twitter.com/KWBMbGtaKEFebruary 23, 2025
GREAT SHOT FROM CAMPBELL
After the big break off the tee Campbell sticks his third shot right down the flag! The ball lands and checks up to just a matter of feet, with the American left with a great look at birdie.
BRIAN CAMPBELL WINS
Brian Campbell wins the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld! The American defeats Aldrich Potgieter at the second playoff to secure the first win of his professional career.
A LIFE CHANGING WIN
It's not the destination, but the journey that defines you.Welcome to the winner's circle, Brian Campbell! 👏 pic.twitter.com/3KPjjs7iS3February 23, 2025
