Raul Pereda is ranked 810th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Before Thursday’s opening round of the 2023 Mexico Open at Vidanta, he had never played a round on the PGA Tour.
By the end of his first 18 holes, he was tied for second after an opening 6-under 65.
What a debut.
The 26-year-old, one of seven players from Mexico playing in Puerto Vallarta at Vidanta Vallarta this week, was born in Mexico City and played collegiately at Jacksonville University. In his most recent starts on PGA Tour Latinoamerica and the Mexican tour, he has a mixed bag of results. A few top fives. A few missed cuts.
Making his TOUR debut as a sponsor exemption, Mexico’s Raul Pereda, who played collegiately at Jacksonville University, posts a bogey-free 65.
Pereda is the first player to shoot 65 or better in TOUR debut round since Robin Roussel (64/2022 Barbasol Championship).
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) April 27, 2023
Now, he’s near the lead of a PGA Tour event.
“I just think more than the score I’m proud I was able to stay very present shot by shot,” Pereda said. “My coach, my old coach from school 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.”
His old coach, Mike Blackburn, has talked with Pereda about taking everything shot-by-shot and living in the moment. And that paid off.
“My mental game was on point, my driver was very good, I think my strategy was very good,” Pereda said. “I think it was all on me today.”
Austin Smotherman, meanwhile, birdied his final four holes, including a chip-in on the ninth, his last of the day, and leads at 8 under after the opening round. Pereda is in a group two shots behind including Tony Finau, Stephan Jaeger, Eric Cole and Taylor Pendrith.
Defending champion and World No. 1 Jon Rahm finished at 4 under after an even-par front nine.
Watch out for the bees.
No, seriously. Don’t get stung.
During the first round, Chez Reavie, Erik van Rooyen and Francesco Molinari were walking up the 10th hole when all of the sudden, players started dropping to the ground. A swarm of bees was flying by, and it was a sight to behold.
“I was over the ball with a 4-iron, look back and I just saw them here and I just told my caddie, I’m like, “Bees, bees, bees,” and he looks at me like I’m crazy,” van Rooyen said. “So I dropped down, then he…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golfweek…