Erik van Rooyen rides two eagles to PGA Tour Mexico Open lead

Erik van Rooyen, a 34-year-old golfer from South Africa, showcased his exceptional skills by securing two eagles during the first round of the US PGA Tour's Mexico Open. His remarkable performance, which included an impressive eight-under-par 63, allowed him to claim a one-stroke lead.

Van Rooyen, who recorded five birdies and only one bogey, positioned himself with a seven-foot putt for eagle at the sixth hole in Puerto Vallarta.

However, his eagle at the 12th hole was even more impressive as he chipped it in from a remarkable 70 feet away.

Regarding the 12th hole, Van Rooyen mentioned that it presented a unique challenge due to the wind conditions during the practice round. It was impossible to reach the green in two shots.

However, on the tournament day, with the wind at his back, he confidently hit a powerful three-wood shot and executed a beautiful pitch to set up the chip-in.

Van Rooyen expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating that he had dedicated significant effort to improving his skills in this area. Witnessing the chip-in go in was a rewarding experience for him.

Following his only bogey at the 15th hole, Van Rooyen finished strongly by birdying the par-five 18th hole, securing a one-stroke lead over Finland's Sami Valimaki.

South African MJ Dafue, Sweden's Henrik Norlander, American David Lipsky, and Chile's Cristobal Del Solar all tied for third place with a score of 65.

Van Rooyen is aiming to secure his second PGA Tour title in Mexico. He previously emerged victorious at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos last November, adding to his triumph at the 2021 Barracuda Championship.

The South African golfer, who recently celebrated his 34th birthday, expressed his confidence in his current form, stating that he believes he is entering the prime of his golfing career.

Despite facing a few injuries in recent years, Van Rooyen is now fully fit and his exceptional golf skills are starting to shine. He remains optimistic that his best performances are yet to come.

Valimaki, on the other hand, claimed second place on his own after securing an eagle on the seventh hole, which was his third-from-last hole. The 25-year-old Finnish golfer, who is in pursuit of his first title, also recorded six birdies with only one bogey.

Del Solar is currently riding a wave of success following his remarkable score of 57 at the developmental Korn Ferry Tour event in Bogota two weeks ago.

This achievement marked the lowest round ever recorded at a US PGA Tour-sanctioned event, surpassing the previous record of 58 set by Jim Furyk at the 2016 PGA Tour Traveler's Championship and Stephan Jaeger at a 2016 Korn Ferry tournament in Germany.

Del Solar expressed his desire to compete regularly on the US PGA Tour, highlighting his recent performances as a positive sign of progress.

Last year, he gained valuable experience during his first year on the Korn Ferry Tour, which he believes has contributed significantly to his development as a professional golfer.

Del Solar emphasized the high level of competition on the Korn Ferry Tour, comparing it to the PGA Tour and acknowledging the skill of the players.

He aspires to reach the pinnacle of professional golf by competing against the best in the world on the PGA Tour.