Karl Vilips wrapped up a career-low 9-under-par 62 with four straight birdies and claimed the first-round lead at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open on Thursday in Vallarta, Mexico.
The Australian began his round on the back nine at Vidanta Vallarta and ran off five birdies in a row at Nos. 11-15. One bogey and one birdie later, he made the turn at 5-under 30. From there, it was all pars until his closing run, which featured a 4-foot birdie tap-in at the par-3 seventh before a 20-footer at No. 9.
Vilips, 25, holds a one-shot edge over Japan’s Kensei Hirata.
“I really like the Bermuda rough, played a lot on it in high school being in Florida,” Vilips said. “And then something about these greens, it’s really — I can just see the grain really well. Speed’s difficult, it’s not easy to make putts on these greens, I feel like, and it did help today (that) I hit them close a lot so I didn’t have to really stress too much.”
The tournament is part of the FedEx Cup Fall series, which helps determine eligibility for the 2027 PGA Tour season. The top 100 players in points at the end of the fall retain full status on tour.
Vilips is exempt through 2027 because he won the 2025 Puerto Rico Open, but he would rocket from No. 141 in the standings to a projected 67th with a victory this week. The players who finish the fall at Nos. 51-60 qualify for the first two signature events of 2027.
Hirata, 25, is vying for his first PGA Tour title and the job security that comes with it. At No. 170 in the points race, it will be difficult for him to crack the top 100, but he fared well in the first two rounds of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship last week (65, 64) before a third-round 76 ended his chances of a victory. After his 63 Thursday, he was projected to move up to 113th.
“It’s really calm here, so it feels a lot easier than last week,” Hirata said after a bogey-free round. “Then heat-wise, I’m used to the heat. I had a really calm day and a good day.”
Ben Griffin had a roller-coaster second nine. He eagled the par-5 third hole and then followed that with a bogey, four straight birdies and one final bogey to finish at 7-under 64. He’s tied with Jeffrey Kang, Marco Penge of England, Garrick Higgo of South Africa and Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Belgium for third.
Griffin, who made the FedEx Cup playoffs top 50 and has a secure future on tour, wanted to get a competitive start in after some time off to receive injections to treat left knee tendinitis.
“This is my first time walking 18 since (the BMW Championship in August) so I’m just glad I made it through,” Griffin said. “It’s a flat golf course and I feel great.”
Max Homa is tied for 14th at 5-under 66 as he aims to maintain his place at No. 53 in the fall standings.
–Field Level Media
