TULUM, Mexico – Play is finally underway on PGA TOUR Americas. The much-awaited inaugural season began at 6:50 a.m. local time on Thursday when Argentina’s Mateo Fernández de Oliveira hit the first tee shot at the season-opening Bupa Championship at Tulum.

A University of Arkansas alum who won the 2023 Latin America Amateur Championship and finished 16th in the PGA TOUR University class of 2023, Fernández de Oliveira hit driver off the tee on No. 1, a 436-yard par-4 at PGA Riviera Maya at Tulum Country Club.

“It's a privilege,” the 24-year-old player said about the opportunity to hit the PGA TOUR Americas’ first shot ever in competition. “I think this is the start of a new era for all of us. This is a new endeavor surrounded by high expectations and that’s the way it should be. There’s a lot of hard work behind the start of this new Tour. I’m very excited to have this opportunity.”

Beginning today and culminating on Sept. 8 with the Fortinet Cup Championship in Toronto, Canada, PGA TOUR Americas will stage 16 tournaments across seven countries. The Latin America Swing will feature six events across Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, while the 10-event North America Swing will include nine events in Canada and one in the United States.

Up to 15 Korn Ferry Tour cards are on the line during the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season – five conditional memberships will go to the top players from the Latin America (2) and North America (3) Swings and the top 10 players in the season-long Fortinet Cup points list will earn exempt membership.