Rahm, Kitayama, four others share Mexico Open lead

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Jon Rahm is the Mexico Open’s biggest star, and he lived up to his billing Thursday, chipping in for birdie and making a late eagle putt for a 7-under-par 64 and a six-way share of the first-round lead.

Jonathan Byrd, Brendon Todd, Trey Mullinax and Monday qualifier Bryson Nimmer also were at 64 from the morning wave. Nimmer played his final five holes in 5 under, including a bunker shot he holed out for eagle on the par-5 sixth hole.

UNLV product Kurt Kitayama faced strong afternoon wind and made nine birdies, getting up-and-down from behind the green on the par-5 18th for his 64.

The Mexico Open is part of the PGA Tour schedule and inherits the history of a national open that dates to 1944. It takes the place of the World Golf Championships-mexico Championship that was at Chapultepec in Mexico City for four years through 2020.

Rahm knew little about the Vidanta Vallarta course except that he felt comfortable off the tee, and it showed. The Spaniard missed only one fairway and three greens.

■ LPGA: At Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., Minjee Lee shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 to take a onestroke lead over top-ranked Jin Young Ko after the Palos Verdes Championship’s first round. Charley Hull, Moriya Jutanugarn and Jennifer Chang were two shots back.

■ DP World: At Girona, Spain, Oliver Bekker had eight birdies and a double bogey in a 6-under 66 to share the Catalunya Championship’s firstround lead with Jeff Winther and Darren Fichardt. Sebastian Heisele, Hao-tong Li and James Morrison were one shot back.