Alvaro Ortiz feels at home and shares 4-way lead in Mexico Open - ESPN

VALLARTA, Mexico — Alvaro Ortiz got off to a strong start and did just enough right at the end for a 7-under 64, giving him a share of the lead Friday in the Mexico Open as he goes for yet another victory in his home country.

This would be the biggest of all for Ortiz, who won twice on the Mexican Golf Tour at the end of last year. Ortiz is the younger brother of Carlos Ortiz, a PGA Tour winner who signed with Saudi-funded LIV Golf.

Ortiz was at 11-under 131 at breezy Vallarta Vidanta, tied with Jake Knapp, Matt Wallace of England and Sami Valimaki of Finland. Ortiz had a 64 of his own late in the afternoon, Wallace shot 65 and Valimaki had a 67.

Ortiz, who grew up in Guadalajara, has been trying to find his way since leaving Arkansas. He already has played in the Masters as the 2019 Latin America Amateur champion, and he qualified for the U.S. Open in 2021 at Torrey Pines.

He is back on the Korn Ferry Tour this year after splitting time last year on the Asian Tour, Mexican Golf Tour and Tour Americas.

«The more I play, the more comfortable I feel and I start to realize that I have the game,» Ortiz said. «I've been doing good work and (trying to) put four rounds together. Hopefully, I can do that this weekend.»

Ortiz started on the back nine and went out in 31, making birdie on all three of the par 5s, adding a pair of birdies in the 10-foot range. He made all pars on the front nine except for an eagle on the par-5 sixth.

«It was very clean, very stress free and I was glad to be able to make that eagle on 6,» Ortiz said. «I feel like I was losing a little bit of momentum, but it was good to get that one back. Happy to be in the position you I'm in.»

First-round leader Erik van Rooyen picked up a pair of late birdies on