Andrew Novak’s Shocking Friday Burst At VidantaWorld Mexico Open

Andrew Novak shot a 10-under 61 on Friday to take a commanding three-shot lead at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open, according to Central Oregon Daily. This score vaults him to 14 under par for the tournament. The cut line sat at 4 over, sending 68 golfers to the weekend while sending several big names packing early. Novak started the week ranked 89th in FedEx Cup points but has now jumped to 53rd. He is looking for his first solo win after capturing the team event in 2025.

The second round brought a rare rules incident that will cost two players dearly. Both defending champion Brian Campbell and Tom Kim ended up in the identical bunker on hole 18. Each golfer then proceeded to hit the wrong ball. This mistake resulted in a two-shot penalty for both men. The situation was unusual enough to draw immediate attention from the rules officials on site.

The Weather Forecast and Broadcast Schedule

Saturday looks like a perfect day for golf with a high of 92 degrees. Accuweather reports only a 3 percent chance of rain for the third round. Sunday brings a high of 91 with an 11 percent chance of rain. Viewers can also catch PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM for two hours of daily coverage starting at 2 p.m. ET.

Fans can watch the action on Fubo for free as well. The split tee times for the third round began at 9:05 a.m. ET. Andrew Putnam, Vince Whaley, and Max McGreevy were the first group out. Karl Vilips, the early leader before Novak’s surge, teed off at 9:38 a.m. ET. Max Homa, seeking to end a four-year win drought, started his round at 2:18 p.m. ET alongside Tony Finau.

Defending Champion’s Struggles and Key Stats

Brian Campbell holds a unique statistical title from his winning run last year. The highest Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green on par 3s in the field was +4.51, achieved by him. A cumulative score of 6 under par on those holes was posted by him and Jacob Bridgeman last year. That specific skill set helped him secure the title in 2025. Now he faces a two-shot penalty that could derail his chances of a repeat victory.

Max Homa has not won a PGA Tour event since January of 2023. To shoot a five-under 66, he sank six birdies during Round 1. He will start Friday’s second round tied for 14th and four shots behind the early leader Karl Vilips. The popular pro is intent on ending his lengthy slump. His performance this week could be the turning point for his season.

Who Made the Cut and Who Missed Out

The 36-hole cut came in at 4-under 138. This number sent 68 golfers to the weekend rounds. Several big names missed the cut in Puerto Vallarta and went home early. The field is now trimmed down to the best performers for the final two days. Stick with Golfweek for live scores, tee times, and TV streaming information throughout the week.

At the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event, Andrew Novak secured his sole PGA Tour victory. His goal now is to secure what would stand as his largest professional victory. The total prize fund is substantial, though the exact amount remains to be finalized in the final reports. The winner will take home a significant share of that purse and crucial FedEx Cup points.

For a second consecutive day, Tom Kim and Brian Campbell were paired in the same group. Their shared mistake on the 18th hole will be a talking point for the rest of the weekend. The penalty changes the leaderboard dynamic significantly. Novak’s 61 remains the standout performance of the day. He has opened up a three-shot lead that will be hard to overcome. The weekend forecast suggests no rain to disrupt the play. Golfers will have to handle the heat and the pressure to win.