The Loop

You probably didn't notice . . . another potential international star made his PGA Tour debut at the Memorial

June 02, 2014

Hideki Matsuyama is the toast of the golf world today and rightfully so. The 22-year-old made his first PGA Tour title a big one, winning the Memorial in a playoff over Kevin Na after outplaying Bubba Watson and Adam Scott down the stretch.

But you probably didn't notice the PGA Tour debut of another potential young star. Carlos Ortiz, all of 23, got an invite from Jack Nicklaus to Muirfield Village and finished T-65.

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Not exactly a big splash, but Ortiz has already made a huge mark since turning pro a year ago after graduating from the University of North Texas. After earning his Web.com Tour card through Q school, the Mexican-born Ortiz has won two tournaments already in 2014, both before turning 23, and he currently leads the tour's money list.

"Representing my country is such a pleasure," Ortiz said after winning the El Bosque Mexico Championship on the Web.com Tour in April. "I hope I get to represent my country in the Olympics and on the PGA Tour next year."

The latter is definitely happening. Ortiz is already a lock to earn his PGA Tour card for 2014-2015 season, and with one more Web.com win this year, he'll move up this season.

Whenever he gets to the big show full-time, it will be a big deal for his home country. There are currently no Mexican-born PGA Tour members and only one Mexican native, Victor Regalado, has ever won on the PGA Tour.