Finals update: Alvaro Ortiz rides family support, mental freedom towards PGA TOUR card bid

Standing at No. 55 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List into the season finale, Alvaro Ortiz faced a steep climb to secure his PGA TOUR card at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance. He needed at least a solo-second finish to break into the top 30 and earn PGA TOUR status for 2025 -- nearly a win-or-bust scenario that would place immense pressure on anyone, especially with a lifelong dream on the line.

Or would it?

“I have nothing to lose,” Ortiz said after firing a 4-under 68 to sit in a tie for second place after the opening round at French Lick Golf Resort's Pete Dye Course. “I came with that mindset to the (Korn Ferry Tour Finals) just knowing that I’m in a spot where I know I’m going to have my Korn Ferry (Tour) card for next year.”

Rather than letting that pressure weigh him down, Ortiz is embracing the challenge head-on.

“At this point of the season we're all like, we're emptying the tank this week,” Ortiz continued. “It's a physical and mental battle.” Finishing up his second full season on the Korn Ferry Tour (he missed 13 cuts in his 19 starts in the 2022 season), the 28-year-old Mexico native has navigated the grueling demands of a long season filled with constant travel and extended time away from his family and support system.

“We went through a stretch of basically four months where we only had a week off,” Ortiz said. The Korn Ferry Tour Championship marks his 25th start of the season, a near marathon effort on the 26-event schedule. “It wears you out really quick … It's a learning process definitely, learning how to manage your energy and how to stay in hotels and stay in Airbnbs and doing all that.”

It’s been a year of growth and introspection for Ortiz, and as he approaches his final event, he’s found his stride with a renewed spirit. The weight has lifted, knowing he’s already secured full Korn Ferry Tour status for 2025. “Towards the end of the season, I started to manage myself better,” Ortiz reflected after his round. “I can feel it … my energy levels have been up, and I’ve been able to push myself practicing and doing other things.”

But Ortiz also has one more advantage in his pursuit of a victory and a PGA TOUR card -- his family.

“I have my family with me this week,” Ortiz said cheerfully. “I think they bring me some good luck. I’ve made every single cut that they’ve been around.”

With a supportive presence by his side, a renewed spirit and a game that’s been trending upwards, the mountain he’s been climbing all season doesn’t seem so daunting after all.

Moving in

Zach Bauchou (No. 35, projected to No. 24): The Oklahoma State alum is a former college roommate of Viktor Hovland, and Bauchou is positioned to join his fellow Cowboy on TOUR next season. Bauchou opened the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 4-under 68 to grab a share of second place into Friday, one off the lead. Bauchou, 28, has made 13 cuts in 23 Korn Ferry Tour starts this season, highlighted by a tie for third at the NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank in July. This marks his first full Korn Ferry Tour season; he finished No. 82 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List in just eight starts last season, and he has further evolved his game in 2024. Now he’s three rounds away from a PGA TOUR card. “I’ve thought about it a little bit, not a ton, but obviously as you play better, you’ll think about it a little more, and it would mean a lot to me,” Bauchou said.

Moving out

Aldrich Potgieter (No. 27, projected to No. 31): After becoming the youngest winner in Korn Ferry Tour history at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club in January, the 20-year-old South African has added just two more top-10 finishes and steadily moved closer to the top-30 bubble. Potgieter opened the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in 2-over 74 and stands T45; he’s now projected less than a point behind Noah Goodwin for the final PGA TOUR card.

Biggest movers

Doc Redman (No. 57, projected No. 37): The Clemson alum needs something special this week to earn a TOUR return. He’s giving it a run, as he opened in 4-under 68 at French Lick and shares second place into Friday, one back of leader Thomas Rosenmueller, who has already clinched his first PGA TOUR card for 2025.

Alvaro Ortiz (No. 55, projected No. 36): The University of Arkansas alum, who entered the week on a streak of four straight made cuts, opened in 4-under 68 to share second place through the opening round. The 28-year-old Mexico native is chasing his first PGA TOUR card.

Rick Lamb (No. 73, projected No. 59): The wily veteran moved into the top 75 on the season-long standings with a final-round 67 for a T13 at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, one of the season’s most clutch performances. He backed it up with an opening-round, 3-under 69 at French Lick; he shares sixth place into Friday, two off the lead.

Hank Lebioda (No. 75, projected No. 64): The Florida State alum earned the final spot in the Korn Ferry Tour Championship field after a nerve-wracking final day at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, where he was projected inside and outside the top 75 at various junctures of the day. He needs to win the Korn Ferry Tour Championship for a chance at a TOUR return, and he’s giving it a run. Lebioda opened in 2-under 70 and stands T11, three off the lead.

Bubble watch

Sam Bennett (entered week No. 30, projected No. 26): The 2022 U.S. Amateur champion, who made headlines by playing in the final group for the last two rounds of the 2023 Masters, opened the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in even-par 72. He’s T24 for the tournament but projected to jump four spots on the Points List, a testament to the tightly packed bubble – Nos. 26-30 on the Points List were separated by less than 10 points into the week.

Noah Goodwin (No. 26, projected to No. 30): Another member of the highly volatile Nos. 26-30 on the Points List, Bennett’s good fortune was at Goodwin’s expense. A 2-over 74, despite only being two strokes worse than Bennett, placed Goodwin as the new bubble boy, and leaving him with no wiggle room as the final three days of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship remain.

PGA TOUR's Kevin Prise contributed to this report.