Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report – 2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta

2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta Fantasy Sleeper Report

Redemption comes in many different forms, and for Patrick Cantlay it came by the smooth-swinging side of Xander Schauffele at the Zurich Classic.

The duo made absolute mincemeat out of the field at TPC Louisiana, and while their margin of victory was reduced to two shots in the end by Billy Horschel and Sam Burns, this was a wire-to-wire win of some comfort.

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If you felt a bit like your golfing party was pooped by the Zurich, you may feel similarly dismayed by the weak field for the PGA TOUR’s newest event – the Mexico Open at Vidanta – which takes place this week.

The Vidanta in question is the host venue, found on the west coast of Mexico in Nuevo Vallarta, and the action will unfold on a layout designed by Greg Norman – a man that has been in the golf press for all the wrong reasons of late.

The Great White Shark was in typically forgiving mood when he laid out the blueprints for his Signature course, with wide open fairways and larger-than-average greens confirming your suspicion that it might become something of a putting shootout this week.

The exposed track could be subject to strong breezes off the ocean, while Norman was not shy of tipping wagon-loads of sand onto the real estate – many of the greens are protected by bunkers of all shapes and sizes.

With six big lakes in play, this Vidanta track is not one that can be played completely without control, but you suspect that in the great Norman tradition of El Cameleon and TPC San Antonio, there will be no shortage of birdies this week.

That is, of course, assuming this middling field brings its collective A-game. Jon Rahm, Daniel Berger and Tony Finau could so serious damage if the course plays easily, while home favorite Abraham Ancer will certainly have the motivation to take care of business….whether he truly has the ability to do so remains to be seen.

A supporting cast of Kevin Na, Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed is one of quality golfers who perhaps aren’t at their best right now, so perhaps opportunity knocks for one of the PGA TOUR’s lesser lights to get their name etched onto the trophy.

That’s certainly the spirit we’re carrying in our sleeper shortlist for the Mexico Open at Vidanta 2022.

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Brenton Todd – 50/1 – As one of the shortest hitters on the PGA TOUR, there are venues at which Brendon Todd might find it impossible to have any success.

And yet, at the 7,500+ yard TPC San Antonio, he finished T8 – a fine effort given how short of firepower he is.

The reason for his successes is as much to do with controlling his ball in the wind as much as anything else, as proven by his victories by the ocean at the Mayakoba Classic and Bermuda Championship.

He’s short and that’s problematic, but Todd has an impressive resumé of successful golf by the coast.

Russell Knox – 50/1 – A strong showing of form at the start of 2022 saw Russell Knox compile two top-10s on TOUR and, weirdly, a trio of T33 finishes.

It’s easy to like the Scot in this field given the quality of his approach play, and the fact that he has top-threes to his name in Mexico confirms his fondness for these conditions.

Historically excellent in similar set ups (T7 at the Sony Open, T9 at the RBC Heritage), Knox is sublime in a breeze and that could stand him in excellent stead given the possible forecast.

Cameron Champ – 55/1 – Just when you were starting to get really worried about Cameron Champ’s game, he appears from nowhere with a top-10 at The Masters.

From small acorns mighty oaks can grow, and Champ’s ability to bash 250-yard fairway woods about six-feet off the ground should aid his quest in the breeze off the west coast of Mexico.

With a T10 to his name at Mayakoba, Champ also has a top-10 at the RSM Classic and T11 at the Tournament of Champions – in short, he’s another that can thrive in these assignments away from the mainland.

Austin Smotherman – 100/1 – Fact fans will perhaps already be aware that Austin Smotherman has won in Mexico during his time on the Latinoamerica Tour.

That golfing upbringing should prove very handy this week for a player who continues to impress statistically, even if his results don’t always reflect the fact.

But players who have been there and done it on Paspalum greens are most welcome this week, so let’s see if Smotherman can improve upon his growing reputation in the game.

Tyler Duncan – 125/1 – Another player that has made hay in the sunshine out on the coast is Tyler Duncan, a former RSM Classic winner and bronze medalist at the Punta Cana Championship.

A solid player, Duncan is one of those guys whose stats – he ranks 60th on TOUR for Scoring Average, which in this field is very strong – rarely yield the results you would expect, but a low grade of opposition at the Mexico Open is clearly to his benefit.

He will be expecting more from his game, and just one missed cut in five starts – with a T12 at the RBC Heritage last time out – suggests that Duncan can thrive this week.

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Want more of this week’s fantasy predictions? Check out our full fantasy preview for the Mexico Open at Vidanta here.

Sleeper Report Predictions This Season (2021-2022)

[skill_bar heading=”Total Top 3s” percent=”3.20%” bar_text=”4 out of 125 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 10s” percent= “17.60%” bar_text=”22 out of 125 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 25s” percent=”20.80%” bar_text=”26 out of 125 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Winners Picked” percent=”4.00%” bar_text=”1 out of 25 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Runners-Up Picked” percent=”4.00%” bar_text=”1 out of 25 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Made Cuts (Includes Sleepers)” percent=”56.80%” bar_text=”71 out of 125 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″]

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Cover photo via Instagram