Karl Vilips produced a impressive nine-under-par 62 on Thursday to take the single-stroke lead after the opening round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta. The tournament marks the first of two consecutive PGA Tour events held in Mexico.
Birdie Streaks Drive Vilips to the Top
The 25-year-old Australian put together a stellar performance during his afternoon round, anchored by two extended birdie runs. Starting on his back nine, Vilips sank five consecutive birdies from holes 11 through 15 before capping off his round with four straight birdies. He recorded one additional birdie and a single bogey in between those dominant stretches.
Afterward, the former Stanford player credited his strong tee shots for setting up his scoring opportunities.
“Had it on a string for the first nine,” Vilips said. “Got a little loose in the middle and got it back on course toward the end of the round. It was lift, clean and place today so being in the fairway was a must for me and I took advantage of those drives that I hit.”
Vilips previously secured his lone PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Puerto Rico Open, which granted him an exemption on tour through next season. He currently sits 141st in the FedEx Cup Fall standings as players compete to break into the top 100 to secure their tour status.
Chasers and Notable Contenders
Japan’s Kensai Hirata sits one shot off the pace in second place following a 63. Hirata, who is currently ranked 170th in the standings, holed a 20-foot eagle putt on the third hole alongside two birdie putts from beyond 20 feet.
“It was a perfect 7-wood distance and I hit a perfect 7-wood shot, which left me a really easy left-to-righter,” Hirata said regarding his eagle on the third hole. “Then that went in and kept the momentum going the rest of the back nine.”
A group of four players sits two strokes behind the leader at seven-under 64, including Ben Griffin, Marco Penge, Garrick Higgo, and Jeffrey Kang. Penge, currently 112th in the standings, also eagled the third hole from 18 feet while working his way back from physical setbacks.
“I feel like I haven’t actually played that much this year,” Penge said “I’ve only played 18 tournaments due to, obviously, health issues. I’m just trying to get back fit really.”
Local favorite Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico opened with a six-under 65 after carding a bogey-free round. Ortiz, who earned his PGA Tour card for next season via the Korn Ferry Tour, previously won this tournament in 2021 when it was featured on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica calendar.
“It was lovely,” Ortiz said. “Bogey-free, played really solid. I felt like I was just flowing the whole day. Gave myself a lot of chances. I think I did very well from tee to green, which makes it very nice on this golf course.”
Defending champion Brian Campbell opened with a four-under 67, matching the score of Tom Kim, who returned to action for the first time since winning a gold medal at the Asian Games to earn an exemption from mandatory military service in South Korea. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, the lone world top-10 player in the field, posted a 69, while sponsor exemption John Daly II opened with a 70. Following this week’s event, the tour moves to Los Cabos for the World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante.
