Andrew Novak built a comfortable lead at the turn then poured it on by going five-under-par on the first five holes of the back nine on his way to a nine-under 62 to build a six-shot lead at the Mexico Open.
About the only thing Novak did wrong at Vidanta Vallarta on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) was losing the handle on a club twirl at the par-5 12th while admiring a 279-yard shot that settled 20 feet away for an eagle.
That was part of his sublime stretch of three birdies and an eagle that stretched his lead to as many as seven shots. It was such a great day for Novak that even when he had a lie in the rough with a golf ball well below his feet, he hammered that out to six feet on the 14th for a birdie.
Novak was at 23-under 190, primed for his first individual title on the PGA Tour. His only other victory was teaming with Ben Griffin in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last year.
The American had the low round of the day while playing in the last group, and goes into the final round coming off scores of 61 and 62.
“Very much the same, maybe a little sloppy at the end,” Novak said of the two rounds. “But the putter saved it.”
He holed a six-foot par on the 16th and made a 10-foot par putt on the 17th after coming up short.
Frenchman Matthieu Pavon birdied his last two holes for a 65 to get within six shots. American Doug Ghim had a 64 and was another shot behind.
“It makes it easier for me to be in my own bubble because I know that something significant would probably need to happen for me to have a chance tomorrow,” Ghim said.
Pavon needs something special, too, though he already is having a good week if he can hold his position. His two-year exemption from winning at Torrey Pines in 2024 runs out this year. Pavon came to the Mexico Open at No.140 in the FedEx Cup. A runner-up finish would move him just inside the top 100.
Australia’s Karl Vilips was in a tie for 26th place at nine under. The first-round leader after opening with a 62, Vilips fell back after a second-round 74, before firing a three-under 68 on Saturday to trail Novak by 14 shots.
