This week’s field was anything but loaded. Jon Rahm and Tony Finau were the lone household names who made the trip south of the border. But, after 54 holes, those two players have found themselves at the top of the leaderboard and we’re in for a clash of the titans at the 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta.
The Spaniard trailed Finau by six shots entering Saturday but he caught fire at Vidanta Vallarta. Rahm signed for a third-round bogey-free 10-under 61 — a tournament record — and is now just two strokes behind Big Tone.
Finau, who opened with rounds of 65-64, began his day with a birdie at the first. His opening nine wasn’t too exciting after that, although he did add another birdie at the seventh.
After a few pars to start his second half, Finau strung together three straight birdies on Nos. 12, 13 and 14 then added another at the 16th. He gave one away at the par-3 17th after failing to convert a six-foot par putt, however, he got it right back with a birdie at the last.
Finau (19 under) signed for a third-round 6-under 65 and will tee off Sunday afternoon with a two-stroke lead over Rahm and Akshay Bhatia.
If you missed any of the action on Saturday, no worries, we have you covered. Get caught up on the third round of the 2023 Mexico Open below.
Mexico Open: Photos
Jon Rahm of Spain plays his shot from the 7th tee during the third round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta on April 29, 2023 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
This man is inevitable.
When he’s in the field, he’s going to be near or at the lead with 18 holes to play. There’s no avoiding it.
Rahm began the day six shots back of Finau but made up the ground quickly with an easy bogey-free 6-under 29 on the front. He’d add three more circles to the card on Nos. 12-14 to get to 9 under for the day. Then, at the par-3 17th, the Spaniard drained a 37-foot birdie putt that, at the time, tied Finau for the lead.
He wasn’t able to take advantage of the closing par 5 and signed for a 10-under 61.
“Today, everything just seemed perfect, right? Made a lot of great swings and the ones that weren’t great, still gave myself a good result,” he said after the round.
If Rahm is able to close it out tomorrow, it’d be his fifth win of the season. Quick reminder: it’s only April.
With a win tomorrow, Jon Rahm would be the first player with 5 wins in a PGA Tour season before May 1 since Johnny Miller in 1974.
— Justin Ray…
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