Tony Finau holds off red-hot, defending champ Jon Rahm for PGA title No. 6 at Mexico Open

Tony Finau held steady on the final day of the Mexico Open, maintaining his lead by three strokes over good friend Jon Rahm, at 24-under and shooting a 66.

The same two golfers led the pack at this year’s Mexico Open as last year, this time with defending champion Jon Rahm chasing a dominant Tony Finau. Just behind them stood Brandon Wu at 19-under and a 21-year-old sensational Akshay Bhatia at 18-under.

When Jon Rahm has a win in his sights, it’s hard to hold him off. Brooks Koepka found that out the hard way at The Masters a few weeks ago. But somehow, Tony Finau held his pal and frequent playing partner at bay, shooting five birdies to extend his lead on Sunday, while keeping his cool in the last four holes to bring the win home.

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“It feels amazing. Rahmbo’s the best, he’s on top of the world right now,” said Finau about world No. 1 Jon Rahm, according to Sports Illustrated. “I knew I was going to have my hands full with him all the way until the end. I didn’t know this golf tournament was mine until I hit this green here. It’s crazy how this game is. You never think you have a tournament won until it’s over… It feels great, and I’m going to enjoy this one with my family.”

Players who were trying to chase Tony Finau down

Wu made a play for position by clocking in three birdies and an eagle in just the first seven holes alone on Sunday. Bhatia also carded two birdies, within the first six holes, to get his name on the scene as well.

But mistakes by both contenders caught up with them, with bogeys on the eighth and 18th holes for Wu—and even more devastating, a double bogey on the 10th—while Bhatia put three bogeys on the board at holes nine, ten and 13.

Finau took full advantage and even with a virtually mistake-free Rahm—who only putted one bogey on the day—chasing him down the course, Finau’s easy confidence kept him steady as he stuck the landing all the way to the finish line.

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“Just a few too many loose swings,” Wu said, who finished with a 68, via the Golf Channel. “Satisfied with how I went today. I’m glad I gave myself a chance through nine holes.”

The win for Tony Finau in Vallarta reverses the spots from last year, where world No. 1 Jon Rahm had held Finau back by just one point. Tony Finau’s Mexico Open victory is his fifth PGA title since the 2021 FedEx Cup Playoffs, which snapped his five-year winless drought, with the Utah native never looking back

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“Obviously I wanted to win, but it’s a reminder that everybody out here is a great player,” Rahm said about Finau. “Tony came out with a two-shot lead and played fantastic golf. I feel like had I been able to pressure him a little more, we would have seen more birdies from Tony.”

The next PGA tournament is the Wells Fargo Championship taking place in Charlotte, NC beginning May 4.