Second-ranked Rahm among pace-setters at Mexico Open

MEXICO CITY, AFP: World number two Jon Rahm carded an eagle and five birdies in a seven-under par 64 to join a six-way tie for the first-round lead at the US PGA Tour’s Mexico Open on Thursday.

Spain’s Rahm, the highest-ranked player in the field for an event that is part of the US PGA Tour for the first time this year, was tied with Americans Jonathan Byrd, Brendon Todd, Trey Mullinax, Bryson Nimmer and Kurt Kitayama.

Todd had seven birdies in his bogey-free effort. Byrd had eight birdies and a bogey, Mullinax had an eagle, six birdies and a bogey and Nimmer – a Monday qualifier – had an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.

Kitayama was the last to join the leading group, notching his ninth birdie of the day at the 18th as the round was winding up. Rahm got off to a quick start before the wind picked up on the par-71 Vidanta Vallarta resort course, teeing off on 10 and grabbing birdies at the 12th, 13th, and 14th.

After a nine-foot putt for an up-and-down birdie at the 18th, Rahm rapped in a four-foot birdie at the fourth.

He drove the green at the par-four seventh, then drained a 42-foot eagle putt.

He acknowledged that was the highlight-reel moment of the round, but said his chip-in for birdie at the 13th was perhaps more important.

Rahm is chasing his first victory since he won his maiden major title at the US Open at Torrey Pines last year.