Matti Schmid kicks off the PGA Tour event in Mexico with a stunning 64. Other German players also post strong opening rounds.
Matti Schmid delivered a flawless performance on Thursday afternoon at the World Wide Technology Championship on the PGA Tour. Playing at El Cardonal Golf Course in Mexico, the German shot an impressive 8-under-par 64. Fellow countrymen Thomas Rosenmüller (68) and Jeremy Paul (69) also posted solid rounds under 70, while Stephan Jäger carded a 71 to stay within reach of the leaders. At the top of the leaderboard, American Nick Dunlap and Finland’s Sami Valimaki both fired 61s to tie the course record. Schmid is part of a five-player group tied for third, though final standings are pending due to incomplete rounds caused by darkness.
PGA Tour: Schmid starts strong in Mexico
Schmid made an early statement on the par-5 1st hole, reaching the green in two and securing a birdie with two putts. He followed up with birdies on the challenging 4th and the 6th, completing the front nine at 3-under-par. The back nine was even more impressive. After pars on 10 and 11, Schmid birdied the 12th and rode a wave of confidence to three consecutive birdies on holes 13 through 15. A final birdie on the 18th capped off his bogey-free round of 64, his second-best score of the season and best since May. He sits in a strong position heading into the weekend.
Thomas Rosenmüller also impressed in his PGA Tour debut. Starting on the back nine, he birdied the 10th and 14th, overcame a bogey on 15, and added another birdie before the turn. He played the front nine at even par and closed with a birdie to finish at 68 (-4).
Jeremy Paul had a similar day. He birdied the 13th, bogeyed the 14th, and added another birdie before the turn. He maintained momentum with birdies on the 1st and 6th holes, finishing with a 69 (-3) and a clean back nine.
Stephan Jäger struggled early with a bogey on the 14th but rebounded with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18. On the front nine, he traded a bogey and a birdie to finish at 71 (-1).
Course record and darkness delay
Nick Dunlap and Sami Valimaki stole the show with matching 61s, tying the course record. Dunlap, 21, capped his bogey-free round with a chip-in eagle on the 18th