Austin Smotherman birdied his final four holes,Nos. 6-9, to card a bogey-free 8-under 63 on Thursday and take a one-shot lead in the Mexico Open at Vidanta.
"Just super steady. I made a few of those 10-, 12-footers middle part of the round, or that early part of the round. Middle part of the round it's not like I didn't have any good looks, some putts just didn't drop and some tougher holes in there as well which you're fine making 3s. The one I kind of felt let slip away was hitting that tee ball left on 18, having to lay up and then leaving myself 15 feet instead of being able to go for that green in two, that would have been that one in the middle just to kind of keep me on pace."
The American's best finish in 43 career starts entering the week is a solo eighth at the 2022 Barracuda Championship.
Finishing in style 💪@Austin_Smosmo chips in at the last to gain the solo lead in the clubhouse @MexicoOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/lnurAqjmBa
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 27, 2023
Smotherman won the event in 2018, it was held in Tijuana that year, when it was a PGA TOUR Latinoamerica event. The Mexico Open dates back to 1944 and among the past champions are Ben Crenshaw, Billy Casper and Lee Trevino.
“I mean, still get a little bit of some goosebumps thinking about it, for sure. Just the reception, winning an event like that, the Mexico Open, which has such a deep history. There are names on that trophy that are in the Hall of Fame and what it kind of means down here, a national open anywhere is very special.
"To have my name on a trophy like that, I mean the trophy's not small by any size either, so I think just having to kneel down, take some photos with all the people after the round is one of the memories I remember because lifting that thing's not easy.”
"I have never seen anything like that."
A swarm of bees was probably not something @FredVR_ and crew saw coming @MexicoOpenGolf 😅 pic.twitter.com/4RjzysQ5qx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 27, 2023
South Africa's Erik van Rooyen tied his lowest opening-round score with a 64 for a share of second place alongside PGA Tour rookie Tano Goya from Argentina, who stayed bogey-free in his lowest round of the season.
Mexico’s Raul Pereda posted a 65 in his PGA Tour debut as a sponsor exemption and sits in fourth place alongside Germany's Stephan Jaeger, Canada's Taylor Pendrith and Americans Eric Cole and Tony Finau.
"I just think more than the score I'm proud I was able to stay very present shot by shot," said Pereda. "My coach, my old coach from [Jacksonville University] just told me just enjoy shot by shot, and sometimes it sounds easier said than getting it done. I was just able to stay in the present and give myself opportunities and roll it very good today."
Defending champion and World No. 1 Jon Rahm played his first four holes in 1-over before rallying to post 4-under 67 and sits in T14.
