Smotherman Withdraws From Mexico Open Days After Bermuda Triumph

Austin Smotherman's remarkable autumn will not continue in Mexico this week. The American withdrew from the VidantaWorld Mexico Open on Monday, stepping away from the PGA Tour's second-half FedExCup Fall opener at Vidanta Vallarta just days after winning the weather-affected Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Smotherman beat Seamus Power on the third playoff hole on Monday to claim the Bermuda title, his second straight victory after also winning the Utah Championship three weeks earlier, capping the first half of the fall schedule in style. His withdrawal leaves the Mexico field without one of its form players, though the event still features a strong line-up headed by betting favourite Wyndham Clark, a three-time winner in 2026 including his second U.S. Open title, and Tom Kim, back on Tour after winning Asian Games gold. The Mexico Open, which begins on Thursday at the 7,337-yard Vidanta Vallarta course, is the first of two straight weeks in Mexico and carries a $6 million purse, with $1.08 million going to the winner. Defending champion Brian Campbell returns, still chasing the first successful title defence since the event joined the PGA Tour schedule, while several players around the top-100 bubble will see the week as a crucial chance to secure full playing rights for 2027. Smotherman, whose fall surge has already secured his position, can afford to rest — and after two wins in three weeks, few would begrudge him the break.