Old and new fans are following Sebastián Muñoz on Friday at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Two local fans stumble onto Muñoz early in the day and they’re instant supporters.
“We’ve been following Muñoz all day! We love this guy and he’s killing it,” they beam on the 18th fairway. “You see the eagle he made on No. 14? He went to University of North Texas, his parents and girlfriend over there, they’re awesome! We yell when Sebastián makes a birdie and he acknowledges with a little wave—we’ve been at it all day.”
Muñoz’s father introduced Sebastián to the game at age two. And when World’s Best Golf Destinations first met Sebastián Muñoz at the TPC Cartagena at Karibana Skins Match in December 2016—dad was on the bag. It was a skins match for $300,000 with Ernie Els, Camilo Villegas and Ángel Cabrera. Muñoz didn’t win a single Colombian Peso.
“That skins match was good for Sebastian,” Muñoz’s father tells World’s Best Golf Destinations. “He was just 22 years old then and Ángel Cabrera was having fun and messing with him all day. It was good education.”
Three years later and Sebastián Muñoz is in the hunt at the AT&T Byron Nelson. He lives in nearby Addison, Texas now and likes winning close to home. He won the 2016 Web.com Tour Club Colombia Championship where he grew up in Bogotá. That victory paid about $120,000, this week’s PGA Tour tie for 10th earns $205,400.
“This tournament feels good because I can sleep in my own house. And my game is better, I have more tournaments under my belt and I’m getting closer and closer. And it’s nice to see the Mean Green fans out here,” Muñoz says.
Muñoz is playing the PGA Tour this season on a “top 50 and ties Web.com Tour Finals from prior year,” exemption. He’s chasing the top 125 FedEx Cup ranking and sits at 130 after a solid Byron Nelson. No PGA Championship, but his schedule resumes close to home the following week at Colonial Country Club in nearby Fort Worth. Beware of Sebastián Muñoz when he plays close to home.
Colombia is one of the most underrated golf destinations in the world. Near Bogota, San Andres Golf Club and Los Lagartos Golf Course are two WBGD favorites. Before joining the family to celebrate his 66 on Friday at Trinity Forest Golf Club, Muñoz offers Colombia golf travel advice.
“Golf in Colombia is great, and Bogota in particular with the elevation the ball goes a long way there,” he adds. “Three golf courses I like to play are Club El Rincon de Cajica, The Country Club of Bogotá and Payandé Golf Club in the valley.”
¡Viva Colombia! ¡Viva Mean Green! ¡Viva Muñoz!
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