'Number 2' Ram "7-under start in Mexico"..."Did you see the eagle on the par-4 hole 1?"

Powerful 336-Yard Drive on Day One of Mexico Championship, Ortiz and Ancer 'Mexico Duo' Falter, Korea's Kang Sung-hoon Ranks 34th

'Number 2' Jon Rahm is teeing off on the first day of the Mexico Championship. Bayarta (Mexico) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Eagle on the par-4 hole in one shot."

'Number 2' Jon Rahm (Spain) has made a strong start. On the 29th (Korean time) at the Vidanta Golf Course in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (par 71, 7,456 yards), the opening day of the Mexico Open (total prize money $7.3 million), he surged with a 7-under-par round to quickly climb to the top of the leaderboard. This marks his return to the PGA Tour just three weeks after the first major of the season, the Masters, earlier this month. Four players, including Jonathan Byrd and Brandon Todd (both from the United States), have joined him in a tie for the lead, setting up an intense battle for the championship.

Rahm collected one eagle and five birdies. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), he gained momentum with three consecutive birdies from the 12th to the 14th holes, and added birdies on the 18th hole (par 5) and the 4th hole in the back nine (par 4). The highlight was the eagle on the 7th hole (par 4) near the end. After a 300-yard tee shot that secured a 'green in one,' he sank an impressive 12.8-meter eagle putt. His performance included a maximum drive of 336 yards, a fairway hit rate of 92.31%, and a greens in regulation rate of 83.33%, complemented by pinpoint iron shots.

It is interesting that Rahm has repeatedly fallen just short of victory, finishing runner-up at the Sentry Tournament in January and third at the Farmers Insurance Open. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler has swept four wins, including a major, and claimed the world No. 1 ranking. This fuels Rahm’s determination on his 'Mexico expedition.' With most top-ranked players resting, his chances of winning have increased. He expressed confidence, saying, "Every shot was good."

Other contenders Patrick Reed and Gary Woodland (both from the United States) are tied for 21st at 4-under-par. The 'Mexico duo,' Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer, are also showing strong resistance in defending their home course. Ortiz is tied for 60th at 1-under-par, while Ancer remains tied for 78th at even par. From Korea, Kang Sung-hoon (35) is watching for opportunities from a tie for 34th at 3-under-par. Bae Sang-moon (36) is tied for 46th at 2-under-par, and Noh Seung-yul (32) is tied for 60th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.