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PGA TOUR

Andrew Novak watched a six-shot lead shrink to three before a run of three straight birdies on the back nine propelled him to a five-stroke win at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open. It is his first individual PGA Tour win, having won the Zurich Classic team event in 2025. The five-stroke margin of victory is the largest in tournament history, and it equals the fourth-largest winning margin on the PGA Tour this season. After starting the event No. 89 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, the win vaults him up to No. 53 and puts him in a position to play in at least two $20 million Signature Events next season. It also gives him a two-year exemption, assuring he will start the 2028 season on the new Championship Series. Norwegian Kristoffer Ventura and Steven Fisk finished tied for second. For Ventura, it equals his career best finish and moves him up to No. 76 in the standings to secure his playing card for next season. Fisk picked up his second top-20 finish in his last three starts, and his final-round 63 equals his career low. Mackenzie Hughes, who led the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green this week, records his first top-5 finish in 38 starts and his third top-10 result of the season. He climbs from No. 118 up to No. 101 in the standings with three events left to get inside the top 100 and secure his tour card for 2027. …Ben Silverman notched his second straight top-20 finish and fifth of the season. He sits 116th in the points standings. …Sudarshan Yellamaraju recorded his best result in his last eight PGA starts. He is 66th in the standings, with the top 60 earning starts in two Signature Series events next season. …Adam Hadwin, who got into the tournament as the first alternate, records his third top-40 finish in his last three PGA starts. …Corey Conners remains 58th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. …A.J. Ewart is three spots outside of securing his playing card for next season. …The missed cut by Taylor Pendrith saw him fall out of the top 100 (No. 102).

NEXT EVENT: World Wide Technology Championship (Nov. 5)

CANADIANS ENTERED: A.J. Ewart, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, Ben Silverman, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Adam Hadwin (4th Alternate)

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Darren Fichardt made a 10-foot eagle putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory at the Simmons Bank Championship. It is the first Champions Tour win for the South African in just his 15th start, becoming the seventh first-time winner this season. His 22-under 194 total broke the 54-hole tournament scoring record. Fichardt, who used four open qualifiers and a pair of top-10 finishes on the way to making it into the playoffs, jumped 29 spots with the win and qualified for the Charles Schwab Cup season finale. Zach Johnson had a one-shot lead with two holes to play when Fichardt made an eight-foot birdie to move into a tie for the lead. On the final hole, Johnson made a birdie putt to put the pressure on Fichardt, who closed it out with an eagle. Fichardt was one of three players to move into the top 36 and earn a spot in the season finale. Ricardo Gonzalez tied for seventh and climbed nine spots up to No. 31 while Bo Van Pelt tied for 10th to move up four spots to No. 34. Mario Tiziani, Greg Chalmers and Jason Caron fell out of the top 36. Henrik Stenson appeared poised to make the finale, sitting in a tie for third with four holes to play. However, he finished double-bogey, bogey, birdie and bogey to fall all the way down into a tie for 15th and missing the 36-player cut by four spots. …Stephen Ames collected his 12th top-20 result of the season, and he qualified for the championship final for the ninth time in the last 10 years.

NEXT EVENT: Charles Schwab Cup Championship (Nov. 12)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Stephen Ames

LPGA TOUR

Miyu Yamashita used five birdies in the final round, including one at the final hole, to successfully defend her title by two strokes at the Maybank Championship. It is her fifth career title and third this season, including a dominant wire-to-wire victory at the CPCK Women’s Open back in August. Yan Liu of China notched her first career runner-up finish on the LPGA Tour, bettering her lowest 72-hole score on tour by one stroke. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard finished third for the second time this season, alongside amateur player Marisa Tojai, who made her first LPGA Tour start at 17. …Anna Huang made her sixth cut in nine LPGA starts this season.

NEXT EVENT: TOTO Japan Classic (Nov. 5)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Maude-Aimee Leblanc (Reserve #17), Leah John (Reserve #31)