Mr. 57 Cristobal Del Solar's Next Act is Contending at Mexico Open at Vidanta
Cristobal Del Solar, the first player to shoot 57 in PGA TOUR-sanctioned competition, is contending at the Mexico Open at Vidanta.
Del Solar's Chance to Change His Career
Cristobal Del Solar, who recently made history by shooting a 57 in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event, is now competing at the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta. He opened the tournament with a 6-under 65, putting him in a share of the early lead alongside Henrik Norlander and David Lipsky.
Del Solar is a Korn Ferry Tour member this year, and a win at the Mexico Open would grant him PGA TOUR membership through 2026. Despite only making his second TOUR start, the Chile native is determined to prove himself against a deep field of TOUR pros.
Del Solar expressed his desire to compete on the PGA TOUR, stating that he learned a lot during his first year on the Korn Ferry Tour. He recognizes the level of competition on the Korn Ferry Tour is just as high as on the PGA TOUR and believes that playing against the top players in the world is where he wants to be.
Impressive Performance and Potential Paths to TOUR Membership
Del Solar's strong performance at the Mexico Open is just the latest in a series of notable achievements. He finished fourth at the season-opening The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay on the Korn Ferry Tour and finished T27 at The Panama Championship. However, his most remarkable feat came two weeks ago at the Astara Golf Championship, where he carded an unprecedented 57.
While the rest of the tournament proved to be more challenging for Del Solar, he still finished in fifth place, solidifying his position in the Korn Ferry Tour standings. This places him in contention for PGA TOUR membership for the 2025 season. Additionally, Del Solar's previous success on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica and his full status for 2024 on the Korn Ferry Tour provide him with multiple paths to achieve his goal of earning TOUR membership.
With his results trending upwards and his game continuing to improve, Del Solar is hopeful that this weekend's competition at Vidanta Vallarta could be a pivotal moment in his career.
Learning and Progressing Towards Success
Del Solar credits his growth and development over the past year to learning his own way of doing things and discovering his own formula for success. He values the experience gained from being on the road and has gained valuable insights into how much he should practice and prioritize physical fitness.
Despite years of hard work, Del Solar recognizes that there is still more to learn and improve upon. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic and believes that his consistent efforts will pay off in the long run. Del Solar is confident that his game is steadily improving and is excited for what the future holds.
Kevin Prise is an associate editor for the PGA TOUR. He is an avid golfer himself and a passionate supporter of the Buffalo Bills.
