EXPERIENCE AS MEXICO CHAMP PAYS

Austin Smotherman already has his name on the Mexico Open trophy. He finished his round Thursday as though he’d love to see it on there again, closing with four straight birdies for an 8-under 63 and a one-shot lead over Erik van Rooyen and Tano Goya.

Masters champion Jon Rahm, who won the Mexico Open at Vidanta in Vallarta, Mexico, for his only PGA Tour title a year ago, had five birdies on his last 11 holes to overcome a sluggish start for a 67.

Smotherman is winless on the PGA Tour. He won the Mexico Open in 2018 on a different golf course — it was held in Tijuana that year — and when it was part of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica schedule.

Even so, the Mexico Open dates to 1944. His name is on the trophy with Ben Crenshaw, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Bobby Locke and Roberto De Vicenzo.

“I mean, still get a little bit of some goosebumps thinking about it,” Smotherman said. “Just the reception, winning an event like that, the Mexico Open, which has such a deep history. There are names on that trophy that are in the Hall of Fame.

“A national open anywhere is very special.”

Goya played bogey-free and finished with a birdie from left of the green on the par-5 18th.

Tony Finau was among five players at 65, and one of them felt just as good as Smotherman. Raul Pereda of Mexico, who played college golf at Jacksonville University, made his PGA Tour debut as a sponsor exemption in his national Open.

LPGA hits Wilshire

Linnea Johansson shot a 7-under 64 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the JM Eagle LA Championship at Wilshire Country Club.

Johansson had a bogey-free round, one of just five in the first round.

“Obviously a great day, great round,” said Johansson, who had a morning tee time. “Played fearless golf today and really went after a lot of pins and managed to hit them very close and roll in the putts. I actually managed to roll in the longer ones more than the shorter ones. It was just a great day.”

Minjee Lee, who won at Wilshire Country Club in 2019 when it was a different event, shot a 6-under 65 and is tied for second along with Gemma Dryburgh.

“I think it kind of reminds me a little bit of home, just the look of the bunkers and just how they’re situated on each hole,” Lee said. “Yeah, it just kind of gives me good vibes. I started pretty, just with pars, and then made three birdies in a row. That was nice to finish off my front nine. Then a couple more on the back nine. It was a nice, solid day.”

Lilia Vu, a Southern California native, won her first major at the Chevron Championship last week and shot a 2-under 69 to land five shots back. Both of her LPGA victories have come this season.

Nelly Korda, who just moved back to No. 1 in the world after a third-place finish at the Chevron Championship, also shot a 2under 69.

Eight of the top 10 golfers in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are vying for the $3 million purse with the Hollywood sign visible from the course.

Rozner has career day

Antoine Rozner shot 9-under 63 and led the Korea Championship by four strokes after the first round of the European tour event in Inchon, South Korea.

The bogey-free round tied the lowest in the Frenchman’s professional career and contained nine birdies at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club — including six in his first nine holes.

“It was a pure day of golf,” Rozner said, “one of those days when you wish you could play like this all the time.”

Rozner’s three European tour wins have come since 2020. One was this season — at the Mauritius Open in December — and he has three top-10 finishes in 2023.

Park Sang-hyun of South Korea and

Andy Sullivan of England were tied for second place after rounds of 67.