Mexico Open 2026 redraws Vidanta Vallarta: fourth hole shrinks 97 yards, 13th becomes drivable

A familiar tournament, a significantly different course

The 2026 VidantaWorld Mexico Open, scheduled for October 29–November 1 at Vidanta Vallarta, will not unfold on quite the same layout players remember. In its October 26 preview, the PGA TOUR confirmed a substantial redesign: the tournament course is now listed at 7,337 yards and par 71. The opening round has not yet taken place, so there is no 2026 competitive leaderboard to report.

The clearest illustration of the changes comes at No. 4. Previously a 520-yard par 4, it has been completely redesigned as a 423-yard par 4, removing 97 yards. That is a meaningful strategic alteration, potentially changing what players hit from the tee and the approach shots they face. A shorter hole does not automatically guarantee an easier one, however; new angles, hazards and green approaches need to be tested in competition.

Three holes change par and the spectator routing shifts

The revisions go well beyond a single fairway. No. 11 changes from a par 3 to a par 4. No. 13, formerly a par 3, is now a drivable par 4, offering an intriguing risk-and-reward decision from the tee. No. 15 makes the reverse switch from par 4 to par 3. Taken together, those alterations reshape where players may attack, defend and recover during a round.

The TOUR has also highlighted changes around Nos. 8, 17 and 18. The 17th will have a stadium-style spectator area, while 18, 9, 1 and 10 have been brought into a common quadrant to improve the fan experience. The overall layout is roughly 100 yards shorter than before. PGA TOUR's official course statistics independently show 7,337 yards, par 71, including the new 423-yard fourth.

Six million dollars and the race for 2027 playing rights

The tournament is the fifth of eight FedExCup Fall events. Its purse is $6 million, with 500 FedExCup points going to the winner. It also begins a two-week Mexican swing: the World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal in Los Cabos follows the next week.

That means the reshaped layout arrives at a delicate time for players near the FedExCup Fall top-100 line. In the TOUR's October 26 preview, Lee Hodges was No. 100, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen No. 101 and Tony Finau No. 104. A strong showing in Vallarta could substantially improve a player's position in the battle for 2027 status. The field also includes Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim and defending champion Brian Campbell.

What last year's leaderboard tells us—and what it cannot

At the 2025 Mexico Open, Campbell and Aldrich Potgieter tied at 20 under par, 264 strokes, after 72 holes. Campbell won with a birdie on the second extra hole, capturing his first PGA TOUR victory. Those figures are historical context, not scores from the unplayed 2026 event.

With a different routing and altered par values on several holes, comparisons between editions will require care. Will the new drivable 13th tempt players into more aggressive decisions? Will the redesigned fourth reward precision rather than sheer distance? Those are the questions to follow once competition begins on Thursday, October 29.

Sources: PGA TOUR's official October 26 preview; 2026 course statistics; official 2025 leaderboard; 2026 schedule.