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Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro: Things to know, scoring records and more

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The 117th edition of the Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro and hosted by Olivos Golf Club in Buenos Aries, Argentina, begins Thursday. The fifth of 26 events in the Korn Ferry Tour season, the Visa Argentina Open was a staple for a decade on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica running from 2012-22.

Here's what you need to know about this event:

1. A South American tradition

The Visa Argentina Open is one of golf’s oldest national open championships. This year, however, it will be making it’s debut as a Korn Ferry Tour event. First played in 1905, the Visa Argentina Open is the seventh-oldest national open still in existence, only behind The Open Championship, India Open, U.S. Open, Australian Open, South African Open and RBC Canadian Open.

A look at the 18th hole at the Argentina Open. (Courtesy Argentine Golf Association)

Roberto de Vicenzo (left) and Tom Weiskopf during the Argentina Open. (Courtesy Argentine Golf Association)

Miguel Fernandez (center) on the tee box at the Argentina Open. (Courtesy Argentine Golf Association)

John Innes Cruickshank hits a tee shot at the Argentina Open. (Courtesy Argentine Golf Association)

Craig Stadler acknowledges the crowd at the Argentina Open. (Courtesy Argentine Golf Association)

2. New place, familiar face

Olivos Golf Club is hosting the Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro for the 12th time in its history, and for the first time since 2016 (other previous years hosted: 1936, ‘42, ‘49, ‘77, ‘79, ‘82, ‘84, ‘92, ’96 and 2003). Originally established in 1926 before a relocation to its current site in 1953, Olivos Golf Club previously appeared on the “100 Greatest Courses Outside the United States” list produced by Golf Digest.

3. Past winners return

Three past champions of the Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro are in the field: Jorge Fernández Valdés (2021), Marcelo Rozo (2013), Ángel Cabrera (2001, ’02 and ‘12). Aside from past champions, the field includes 33 Korn Ferry Tour winners with 45 total victories, including Argentinians Nelson Ledesma (2018 LECOM Health Challenge, 2019 The Ascendant presented by Blue), Jorge Fernández Valdés (2023 UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH), and Fabián Gómez (2010 Chitimacha Louisiana Open). The field also includes seven PGA TOUR winners with 11 total victories, led by Ángel Cabrera with three.

4. International trend

The Tour has seen two international winners in four events this year: the prodigious Aldrich Potgieter of South Africa and University of Colorado alum Jeremy Paul of Germany. This week’s field includes 20 players from four different Latin American countries. Could we see a third international winner among this pool rise?

Country	Players
Argentina	Juan Arozena, Santiago Bauni, Ángel Cabrera, Martin Contini, Jorge Fernández Valdés, Andres Gallegos, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, Fabián Gómez, Tano Goya, Nelson Ledesma, Marcos Montenegro, Augusto Núñez and amateur Juan Martin Loureiro
Chile	Cristobal Del Solar and Gabriel Morgan-Birke
Colombia	Marcelo Rozo
Mexico	Raul Pereda, Roberto Díaz, Emilio González and Alvaro Ortiz

What’s at stake?

In addition to earning 500 points counting towards the Korn Ferry Tour Points List and $180,000 of the tournament-record $1 million purse, this week’s winner earns an exemption for the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon this coming July.

Tournament facts:

Course: Olivos Golf Club (par 70, 6,795 yards)
Course designer: Luther Koontz
Defending champion: Zack Fischer (2022)
Purse: $1,000,000 ($180,000/winner)
Scoring records, facts:
- Low 18-hole score: 62, Ángel Cabrera (2002, Round 2, Hurlingham Club), Tyson Alexander (2017, Round 2, Jockey Club)
- Low 72-hole score: 264, Miguel Fernandez (1988, Hurlingham Club)