By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Sky Sports
Andrew Novak wins the 2026 Butterfield Vidanta World Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta.
Novak played phenomenally this weekend. The golfer looked poised and sharp. Coming into the final round, it would have been a surprise if he didn’t come out victorious. His game has been astonishing. Novak maintained a commanding lead during the final round.
The weather conditions created some challenges. We have seen throughout history how weather can play a factor in a player’s performance. The weather certainly didn’t diminish Novak’s ability to get the job done. Champions don’t make excuses.
“I’ve been wanting a solo victory for a while now, and it was really nice to get it here,” Novak said.
Grinding it out is something Novak truly had to do. He’s played well all week. Novak feels this is the best he’s ever felt on the golf course. During the postgame interview, Novak was all smiles and soaking the moment all in. There’s no better way than being a winner and raising the trophy.
There are moments in the final round that stood out to Novak.
“I got birdies on the 12 and 13, which you expect ideally,” Novak said. “The putt I made on the 14 was a big moment. It had been sitting at a four-stroke lead for pretty much a bunch of holes, and I feel like Doug and I made the same scores for probably 10 holes in a row, and it was the first kind of little opening I had where he had made a mistake, and I was able to take advantage of it in that moment.”
All of Novak’s irons were perfect. His swing was impressive. Although he had a six-shot lead, Novak was being cautious not to get too overconfident and did everything he could to stay patient.
It’s been eight long years. Novak has gotten better every single year.
“We had higher expectations for this year than maybe some previous years,” Novak said. “It was disappointing to miss the playoffs. It was all about being patient, and we stuck through it.”
Novak has a team around him that believed in him. It’s been an unforgettable week for Novak and his caddie.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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