Long Hitter Champ "Tied for 2nd Place, 2 Strokes Behind"... 'Number 2' Ram "Leading for Three Consecutive Days"

Mexico Open Day 3: Kitayama Ties for 2nd with 4-Under Surge, Rashley and Rogers Tied for 4th, Kang Seonghun Tied for 45th

Power hitter Cameron Champ is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the third day of the Mexico Open. Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) = Getty Images / MultiVitz

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is a surge by long hitter Cameron Champ (USA).

On the 1st (Korean time), at the Vidanta Golf Course in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (par 71, 7,456 yards), on the third day of the PGA Tour Mexico Open (total prize money $7.3 million), he shot 4-under par to rise to a tie for 2nd place (13-under par 200). Number 2 Jon Rahm (Spain) leads at 15-under par 198, with Kaito Kitayama tied for 2nd, and Nate Lashley, Patrick Rodgers, and Davis Riley (all USA) tied for 4th at 12-under par 201.

Champ started from a tie for 3rd, 3 strokes behind, and collected six birdies (two bogeys). He made "stepping stone birdies" on holes 1 and 3 and consecutive birdies on holes 6 and 7 to reduce four strokes in the front nine, then added more "stepping stone birdies" on holes 12 and 14 in the back nine. However, it was unfortunate that he made bogeys on holes 15 and 16 (both par 4) after tee shots landed in the rough. He relied on an average drive of 349.70 yards. He is 2 strokes behind the leader, aiming for his 4th career win after 10 months since winning the 3M Open in July 2021.

Champ is a player who has won three times in total, including the Sanderson Farms Championship in October 2018, the Safeway Open in September 2019, and last year's 3M Open. This year, he is also leading in average driving distance (321.10 yards). Although he has participated in nine tournaments this season, his best result was a tie for 10th at last month's Masters, indicating somewhat sluggish form. He has struggled due to a low fairway hit rate (53.71%) and greens in regulation rate (63.29%).

'Number 2' Jon Rahm is reading the putting line on the 3rd hole on the third day of the Mexico Open. Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) = Getty Images / Multibits

Rahm added 3-under par to maintain his lead for the third consecutive day. It is a "wire-to-wire" chance for victory. Although he is a strong player with six career wins including one major, he has been winless since becoming the first Spanish US Open champion in June last year. Lashley joined the competition for the win with a daily best 7-under par. He is only 3 strokes behind the leader. From Korea, Kang Sung-hoon (35, CJ Logistics) recorded one eagle, three birdies, and three bogeys, tied for 45th place (4-under par 209).

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