Jon Rahm claimed his second PGA Tour victory of the 2026 season at the Mexico Open, carding a final-round 65 at Club de Golf Chapultepec to win by four strokes and move past the disappointment of his Masters collapse.
The Basque golfer, ranked No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, produced a wire-to-wire performance after opening with a 9-under 62 on Thursday — the lowest first-round score in tournament history. He never trailed, extending his lead to five shots by the turn on Sunday before closing with four birdies in his final six holes to seal a 19-under 261 total.
The win arrives just weeks after Rahm’s painful exit at Augusta National, where a closing 78 dropped him from contention and left him questioning his ability to finish under pressure. In Mexico, he answered those doubts with the most consistent ball-striking of his career, hitting 72 of 72 greens in regulation and averaging just 26.8 putts per round.
“After what happened at the Masters, I needed to remind myself I can still close tournaments,” Rahm said in his post-round interview, verified by the PGA Tour’s official transcript. “This week, I trusted my process. I didn’t try to force anything. I just played my game, one shot at a time.”
Rahm’s victory marks his 22nd PGA Tour title and first in Mexico since winning the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship in 2021. It also makes him the first player to win multiple times in 2026, following his triumph at the Hong Kong Open in March, where he defeated Rory McIlroy in a playoff.
The Chapultepec course, nestled in the southwestern hills of Mexico City at over 7,300 feet above sea level, presented unique challenges due to the thin air, which typically increases ball flight by 10–15%. Rahm adjusted his club selection accordingly, often taking one less club into the wind and relying on precise iron play to navigate the tight, tree-lined fairways.
His closest challenger, Mito Pereira of Chile, finished at 15-under after a bogey-free 68 on Sunday but could not overcome Rahm’s early surge. Pereira had birdied three of his first four holes on the final day to cut the deficit to two, but Rahm responded with three birdies of his own over the next five holes to re-establish control.
The win elevates Rahm to second in the 2026 FedEx Cup standings with 1,150 points, trailing only Scottie Scheffler (1,420). It also secures his place in the upcoming PGA Championship at Valhalla, where he will seek his first major title since the 2021 U.S. Open.
Rahm’s performance in Mexico drew praise from peers and analysts alike. Three-time major champion Brooks Koepka, playing in the same group on Sunday, noted Rahm’s composure under pressure. “He was just steady,” Koepka said in a post-round interview with Golf Channel. “Every time someone got close, he answered. That’s what champions do.”
The victory continues a strong start to Rahm’s 2026 campaign, which now includes top-10 finishes in four of his five PGA Tour starts. His only blemish remains a T-22 at the Genesis Invitational, where he struggled with his driver off the tee.
Looking ahead, Rahm is set to compete at the Wells Fargo Championship next week at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tournament, scheduled for May 1–4, will serve as his final tune-up before the PGA Championship begins on May 15.
For global golf fans, the Mexico Open win underscores Rahm’s resilience and adaptability across continents and conditions. From the links-style challenges of Hong Kong to the high-altitude demands of Chapultepec, he has proven capable of adjusting his game to prevail.
As he reflected on the week, Rahm acknowledged the emotional weight of the victory. “It’s not just about the trophy,” he said. “It’s about knowing I can still do this when it matters. That means a lot.”
The next checkpoint in Rahm’s schedule is the Wells Fargo Championship, with tee times expected to be released by the PGA Tour on April 28. Fans can follow his progress through the tour’s official website and app.
If you’ve followed Jon Rahm’s journey this season, share your thoughts below. What does this win mean for his major championship hopes?
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