Del Solar happy for PGA TOUR opportunity at Mexico Open at Vidanta

Cristóbal Del Solar has never played in a PGA TOUR tournament, but that is all going to change in a month when he will make his TOUR debut at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. And he earned the privilege to play at golf’s highest level.

Del Solar, a Korn Ferry Tour member, had early season success playing on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in December as he looked for a place to play while his Tour was idle. Del Solar, who moved up to the Korn Ferry Tour after a stellar 2021-22 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season, made his mark in his short time returning to the Tour where he cut his teeth as a professional.

After he tied for 34th at the VISA Argentine Open, Del Solar won the Neuquén Argentina Classic the following week and added a third-place finish the next week, at the Scotia Wealth Management Chile Open. That gave him the lead in the Totalplay Cup, an advantage he still holds today despite devoting his time to the Korn Ferry Tour once the calendar turned to 2023. Del Solar’s No. 1 slot assured him the Mexico Open at Vidanta invite. Prior to the start of the season, the tournament offered the highest-ranked Latin player in the Totalplay Cup after the JHSF Brazil Open a spot in its field. Del Solar was only too happy to accept his invitation to the second-year event set for April 27-30.

“This is crazy. The Mexico Open at Vidanta is going to mark my PGA TOUR debut. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity”, reacted Del Solar. “Playing on the PGA TOUR has always been a dream of mine and eventually I want to become a PGA TOUR member. I can’t thank the tournament organizers enough for awarding me this exemption as the leading Latin player on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. I have always had an amazing time in Mexico and I can only imagine how memorable this tournament week will be. I can’t wait to be there!”

A year ago, Jon Rahm used an opening-round 64 at Vidanta Vallarta to take a share of the 18-hole lead, and the Spaniard led after each subsequent round, securing a one-stroke triumph over the trio of Tony Finau, Brandon Wu and Kurt Kitayama in the inaugural event.

In addition to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, the Mexico Open at Vidanta offered a similar exemption to the highest-ranked Latin player on the Korn Ferry Tour, and former PGA TOUR Latinoamérica standout Alejandro Tosti earned that exemption for his Points List position.

This season, Del Solar, a native of Chile and former Florida State University stalwart, has played in six Korn Ferry Tour tournaments, missing his first cut this past week at the Astara Chile Classic. His lone top-10 came at the Club Car Championship in Savannah, Georgia, a tie for 10th. He’s currently No. 26 on the Points List.

In the 2021-22 season, Del Solar finished second in the Totalplay Cup, playing in 12 tournaments, winning the Volvo Golf Championship in Colombia, posting five additional top-10s, four of those top-fives.