Dark Horse Picks to Win PGA 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta on FanDuel Sportsbook

Following the team event and the Zurich Classic, a majority of the world's top golfers will take another week off with next week's Elevated Event Wells Fargo Championship on deck. But the second edition of the 2023 Mexico Open did bring in the defending champ and 2023 Masters winner Jon Rahm. He's currently ranked No. 1 in the world, and the next top challenger is Tony Finau, who finished runner-up behind Rahm at the 2022 Mexico Open.

The 2015 Greg Norman designed Vidanta Vallarta has generous fairways and length. It favored big hitters off the tee and strong long iron players (200+ yards) based on last year's results. The slower greens and Paspalum grass combined with coastal winds off the Pacific Ocean will make power players who can control trajectory and distance and putt well on Paspalum ones to watch this week.

Following wins by dark horse picks Max Homa in the Farmers Insurance Open, Adam Svensson in the RSM Classic, and Matt Fitzpatrick in the RBC Heritage, there are opportunities to cash in on other players behind the leading favorites. That includes for a top-10 or top-20 finish like dark horse Jason Day at The Player Championship and Xander Schauffele at The Masters.

Mexico Open Dark Horse Picks 2023

Beyond the favorites, there are plenty of capable longshots and dark horses that could make a run at the leaderboard and come away with a higher finish or victory on Sunday. After all, did you see Kurt Kitayama win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 220/1 odds or greater?

Check out the 2023 Mexico Open odds to win along with finishing position odds, tournament matchups and golf props on FanDuel Sportsbook.

1. Gary Woodland (+3200)

Woodland ranks No. 1 in Off-the-Tee and No. 2 in Ball Striking in this field over his last 36 rounds. He's also top-11 in Approach and Tee-to-Green. Combining his solid form and solid finish here last year (T-24), the 38-year-old 2019 US Open champion fits well at Vidanta Vallarta. Completing the top-contender profile is that Woodland was top-5 in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green at this event last year, and he currently ranks No. 1 in this field in Proximity to the hole from 200+ yards and very solid from 150-200 yards.

2. Patrick Rodgers (+3600)

Rodgers combined a strong week of Putting and Off-the-Tee stats to finish top-10 in this event last year. A similar finish would net a 3/1 return, and +3600 for his first PGA Tour win. The 30-year-old big hitter has been coming closer to victory with a top-5 in Texas this month and top-20 at the RBC Heritage in his last event. Rodgers is top-10 in Birdies or Better Gained, and top-5 overall this year in birdies on Tour. A good week on and around the Paspalum greens and Rodgers can contend gain.

3. Matt Wallace (+7500)

Going down the board looking for a longshot and true dark horse, 33-year-old Englishman Matt Wallace fits the profile of a player who can contend. Wallace won his first PGA Tour event in March on the comp course at Corales Puntacana Championship. Wallace is one of four players, along with Wyndham Clark, who ranks above average and best in the field in Proximity to greens from 200+ yards, Driving Distance, Birdies or Better Gained, Comp Course History, and Strokes Gained: Short Game. At these longshot odds to win and near 7/1 for a top-10 finish, Wallace is one to add to your golf betting picks and portfolio as a dark horse this week. So is bonus pick Brando Wu (+6500), who finished 1-stroke behind Rahm in the 2022 Mexico Open and ranks top-10 in Proximity to Hole from 200+ yards.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.