The Mexican Open 2022 Player of the Year was in attendance on Thursday as world No 2 Jon Rahm opened with a no-magic 7-under 64. full advantage.
“Yes, it’s really comfortable to hit the ball,” Rahm said. “You don’t really have a real risk of being in a bad position, but even though that’s generous, when I’m making shots with the trajectory and trajectory of the ball that I want, it just gives me confidence. more for every other shot. I’m really comfortable being out there, so that’s reflected in the scores.”
Leading the field in hit hits: greens and hits: outfield, Rahm’s improvement in the short game is a welcome sight. To Vidanta Vallarta 173rd in strokes achieved: green space and 132nd in strokes: into the season, the 27-year-old was able to solve those problems in the first round.
Starting his round by hanging a green chip at par-3 on day 13, Rahm ended his day in equally impressive style with an Eagle-2 on par-4 on Saturday, hole 16th of his day. Connecting to the near-100-foot putts on Thursday, Rahm will feel comfortable not only with his game but with a chance to lift the trophy for the first time since last summer’s US Open.
Co-leaders
Rahm isn’t the only golfer to top the rankings when he’s accompanied by five other golfers. Brendon Todd, Trey Mullinax, Jonathan Byrd, Bryson Nimmer and Kurt Kitayama also entered rounds 7 under 64 to join a six-time winner on the PGA Tour.
Nimmer earned entry to the tournament by winning an honorary medal in the open qualifiers, something Byrd has become familiar with over the past few years. The five-time PGA Tour winner returned to Q-School last fall, advancing to the second leg and finals.
“If you’re playing in the championship category in the past, you can go five weeks without playing a tournament and it’s hard to keep up the momentum,” Byrd said. “I’m getting ready to get in the next two weeks, which is four weeks in a row, so it’s very frustrating for me to only have more tournaments to play. I started the year thinking I could get in. list 15 , it looks like I could get in more like 20. I’m just happy to have the beginnings.”
Rick Gehman and Jonathan Coachman were on “Tiger Watch” again as Big Cat practiced in Tulsa for a practice round in the Southern Hills. Follow and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Other candidates
T7: Aaron Wise, Aaron Rai, Sahith Theegala, Scott Brown (-6)
T11: Sebastian Munoz, Charles Howell III, CT Pan, Alex Smalley, Greyson Sigg, Patrick Rodgers, Hayden Buckley, Brandon Hagy, Ryan Blaum, Andrew Novak (-5)
All of the top 10 are currently scheduled to play on Friday afternoon, with the exception of Brown and Kitayama. The 38-year-old has played some of the best golf games of his career in tropical locations and is just one stroke from the lead. The 2013 Puerto Rico Open winner, Brown has pulled between the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour this season with quality results at the Bermuda Championship, the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic Championship and the Corales Puntacana Championship.
Not one, but two holes in one on the 5th par-3
In its first public appearance, Greg Norman’s design delivered early and often in the first round with two holes in one. In addition to the clubs of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Scott Gutschewski, those in Vidanta Vallarta will remain well-hydrated on Thursday night.
“I mean it’s a really good number, a little bit of wind help and hit it and it looked really good in the air and I was like wow, I hit that. It’s a good number.” Gutschewski said. “I don’t like shredding it or cutting it. Yeah, the whole thing looks great. I looked at it like wow, looks great.”
Younger Ortiz leads in house fees
Most casual golf fans may not be familiar with the Mexico Open, but it’s been around since it first took place in 1944. An age-old event, it’s finally made its way to the PGA Tour stage. and boasts 10 Mexicans on the field – the most ever for a PGA Tour event. Surprisingly, it was not Abraham Ancer, or Carlos Ortiz, who led the way for the home faithful on Thursday, but the defending champion, Alvaro Ortiz.
Carlos’ younger brother, 26, Alvaro to Vidanta Vallarta has missed four consecutive cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour. He grew up on this property as his father was a contractor for Vidanta for 25 years. Feeling at home, Ortiz hit 3 under 68 to lead all the Mexicans and hold a draw in 34th place.
“It’s been a dream come true for us to play here and we’ve come, man, I don’t know how long. Since I have a memory, we went to Puerto Vallarta,” Alvaro said. Ortiz said.
Updated odds and selections
Here are the odds after the opening round, provided by Caesars Sportsbook.
- Jon Rahm: 7-4
- Aaron Wise: 12-1
- Brendon Todd: 14-1
- Aaron Rai: 20-1
- Kurt Kitayama: 20-1
- Sebastian Munoz: 22-1
- Gary Woodland: 22-1
- Sahith Theegala: 22-1
I am only interested in one player on the list above and that is Woodland, who entered the Mexico Open in strong form and did nothing to prove anything else in Round 1. Hit the number of strokes on the field in each Index from tee up, Woodland disappointed. with a flat stick, but still being able to sign round 4 under 67 in the afternoon is within reach of the leaders. Tony Finau is another player that caught my eye, but after a disappointing 71 par, a three-ball with Abraham Ancer and Kevin Na could be the right investment for Friday.
