**PGA Tour**
MEXICO OPEN AT VIDANTA WORLD
Location: Vallarta, Mexico
Course: Vallarta Vidanta
Yardage: 7,436 yards
Par: 71
Prize money: $7 million, Winner’s share: $1.26 million
TV coverage: Thu-Fri, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sat-Sun, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)
Defending champion: Jake Knapp
FedEx Cup leader: Ludvig Aberg
Recent winner: Ludvig Aberg claimed victory at the Genesis Invitational
Details: The Mexico Open kicks off NBC’s coverage leading up to the Masters. Notable players include Aaron Rai, the highest-ranked in a field with limited top 50 competitors. The field of 132 includes sponsor exemptions for Latin American players like Alvaro Ortiz. Padraig Harrington joins after European tour appearances. The winner earns a Masters invitation. Just 11 players in the field are already in the Masters, including amateurs Jose Luis Ballester and Justin Hastings. Teen pro Blades Brown secures a sponsor exemption.
Next event: Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches
Website: https://www.pgatour.com/
**LPGA Tour**
HONDA LPGA THAILAND
Location: Chonburi, Thailand
Course: Siam CC (Old)
Yardage: 6,632 yards
Par: 72
Prize money: $1.7 million, Winner’s share: $255,000
TV coverage: Wed-Thu, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Golf Channel); Sat-Sun, 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)
Defending champion: Patty Tavatanakit
Race to CME Globe leader: A Lim Kim
Recent winner: Yealimi Noh clinched the Founders Cup
Details: The start of the LPGA Tour’s Asia swing, including stops in Thailand, Singapore, and China. Notable players include A Lim Kim and Yealimi Noh, the winners of the season’s earlier events. The field boasts Japanese twins Akie and Chisato Iwai and Gianna Clemente. Patty Tavatanakit aims to defend her title.
Next event: HSBC Women’s World Championship
Website: https://www.lpga.com/
**European Tour**
MAGICAL KENYA OPEN
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Course: Muthaiga GC
Yardage: 7,208 yards
Par: 71
Prize money: $2.5 million, Winner’s share: $416,667
TV coverage: Thu-Fri, 5-10 a.m. (Golf Channel);
Last year, 200 FedEx Cup points were earned by the winner. The Kenya Open has been a part of the European tour for the past six years. Formerly on the Challenge Tour schedule starting back in 1991, this prestigious event has seen legendary champions like Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, and Trevor Immelman. Interestingly, since its inception in 1967 as an associate event for the Safari Circuit, no American golfer has clinched victory at the Kenya Open. Currently, Tyrrell Hatton leads the Race to Dubai following his triumph at the Rolex event, the Dubai Desert Classic. The European tour is set to take place in South Africa for the upcoming two weeks.
In the previous tournament, Haotong Li emerged victorious at the Qatar Masters. Looking ahead, the Investec South African Open Championship is scheduled for next week. For more information, visit: https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/.
Shifting focus to the LIV Golf League, Joaquin Niemann claimed victory at the LIV Golf Adelaide event last week. The next tournament, LIV Golf Hong Kong, is slated for March 7-9. Adrian Meronk currently leads the points standings. Stay updated at: https://www.livgolf.com/.
On the PGA Tour Champions circuit, Justin Leonard secured the title at the Chubb Classic in the previous week. Up next is the Cologuard Classic, taking place on March 7-9. Ernie Els is the leader in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. For more details, visit: https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions/.
In the Korn Ferry Tour’s most recent event, Kyle Westmoreland emerged victorious at the Panama Championship. Looking forward, the Visa Argentina Open is scheduled for Feb. 27-March 2. Hank Lebioda currently leads the points standings. Find out more at: https://www.pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour/.
Additionally, on other tours around the globe, the Sunshine Tour’s Hyundai Open is set to take place at the Royal Johannesburg GC (East) in Johannesburg. The defending champion will be determined in this new tournament. For details, visit: https://sunshinetour.com/. Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Webex Players Series Sydney is scheduled at the Castle Hill CC in Norwest, Australia. Kazuma Kobori was the previous winner at this event. More information can be found at: https://pga.org.au/.
To stay up to date with the latest in golf, visit AP golf at: https://apnews.com/hub/golf.
