Kim Joohyung Off to Solid Start in Return... "4-Under-Par Flying Start"

Tied for 22nd after Round 1 of the VidantaWorld Mexico Open
Returns to the PGA Tour after winning Asian Games gold two months ago
Vilips leads; John Daly Jr. tied for 68th

Kim Joo-hyung made a solid start in his return to the PGA Tour.

On Oct. 30 (Korea time), Kim carded five birdies and one bogey in the first round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, the fifth event of the PGA Tour’s Fall Series, at Vidanta Vallarta (par 71) in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico. He shot a 4-under 67 to sit in a tie for 22nd.

Tom Kim carded a 4-under-par 67 in the first round of the VidantaWorld Mexico Open. AFP-Yonhap News Agency

After winning the gold medal in the individual event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Kim showed steady form in his first PGA Tour event in two months. He got off to a flying start with three consecutive birdies on holes 2 through 4, but bogeyed the par-3 seventh after missing a short par putt. He kept up the momentum on the back nine with consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11. He parred the remaining seven holes.

Australia’s Karl Vilips fired a 9-under 62 to take the lead. Japan’s Kensei Hirata also put together a perfect round, carding one eagle and six birdies. He is one stroke back in second place at 8-under 63. U.S. golfer Ben Griffin shot a 7-under 64 and is tied for third.

Doug Ghim is tied for eighth at 6-under 65, while Max Homa is tied for 14th at 5-under 66. Defending champion Brian Campbell, also of the United States, is tied for 22nd. Tony Finau of the United States and Canada’s Corey Conners are tied for 35th at 3-under 68, while this year’s U.S. Open champion, Wyndham Clark of the United States, finished the first round tied for 54th at 2-under 69. John Daly Jr., son of John Daly of the United States, is tied for 68th at 1-under 70.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.