Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico – The 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta witnessed a captivating battle for first-time PGA Tour victories, a stark contrast to the established names who triumphed in the previous two years.
Emerging victorious was rookie Jake Knapp, who carded an even-par 71 in the final round. The 29-year-old UCLA alumnus secured the win at 19 under, two shots ahead of seasoned Finnish golfer Sami Valimaki (69 years old).
Valimaki, seeking to become the first player from Finland to win on the PGA Tour, finished at 17 under in the third Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta Golf Club in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico.
Knapp, who turned professional in 2016, has enjoyed a promising start to his PGA Tour career with a T-3 at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. Valimaki, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, last claimed victory in Europe at the 2023 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
C.T. Pan of Taiwan made three straight birdies on the back nine in a 65 and finished five shots behind in a tie for third with Stephan Jaeger of Germany, who birdied four of the first seven holes in another 65.
Defending champion Tony Finau, who previously finished second twice in Mexico, closed the tournament with a birdie for a 68, tying for 13th place.