Mexico Open at Vidanta, in a venue with more impact


From Chapultepec to Vallarta, the distance is not only measured in kilometers, but also in the potential of alliances, commercial and global impact, and economic impact. The above summarizes some impacts, but when analyzing each one, there are surely many left to mention.

Mexico-Championship closed its cycle at the Chapultepec Golf Club with four editions (from 2017 to 2020) had its magical moments such as the participation of golfer Tiger Woods in 2019. However, the new Mexico Open at Vidanta concept begins with its own brilliance, bringing together a record number of 10 Mexicans in a PGA Tour competition and six Top 50 golfers in the world ranking, including Jon Rahm, now number 3 in the world, Abraham Ancer (18) and Tony Finau (25).

Grupo Salinas led the change of venue, the negotiation with the PGA Tour and the investment that is confirmed in the destination for three years. There is no turning back and the traveling headquarters is ruled out. Benjamín Salinas, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Grupo Salinas in an interview with El Economista tells from the first steps of the move to the long-term investment plan that the company plans with golf.

“We are going to put in more than 60 million dollars. We are looking at this initiative (Mexico Open) in conjunction with other organizations such as Mayakoba. We are going to get together and what we earn from these events, we are going to reinvest in new tournaments. We want to bring an LPGA tournament for women, junior tournaments. That is in our foot of investment for the next three years and we are going to achieve it with the help of the PGA Tour”.

The plans do not end there, the investment looks towards the development of golfers in Mexico with the construction of a High Performance Center, but “before, we would like to have youth tournaments so that there is a discipline and calendar in the year. The opportunities will be open and democratic, today it is not like that, there is a route missing but we have mapped it out”.

The negotiation

In 2020, while sporting events around the world closed due to the pandemic, in Mexico, Benjamín Salinas communicated with the president of the PGA Tour, Jay Monahan, to save the 2021 edition. “In friendly conversation and remembering why we are making these efforts, We came to the conclusion that we should all do our part to redo the contract, extend it, and that is how the Mexico Open was born”.

The talks lasted for months, the disagreements between the almost 600 members of the Chapultepec field stopped the decision, they submitted the process to a vote without the option of an extraordinary Assembly. The relationship with Vidanta fell by the wayside and the move was agreed upon. Now the tournament can sell the naming and detonate all the assets it generates. At the time of signing the new agreement with the PGA Tour, Salinas pointed out: “’since we are in this problem and we are going to make a new contract, I would like to have more Mexicans playing, put all the rules you need so that they pass the minimum requirements ‘. We did it, we changed category, we are Mexico Open, where 10 Mexicans will be and we can extend the contract”.

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