Driving it Home
Two UNT Golf alums return to North Texas to compete in LIV Golf Dallas Tournament
When it comes to green, Carlos Ortiz (’13) and Sebastián Muñoz (’15) know it well — the color is embedded in the course of their lives, whether it be the putting green or the Mean Green. The two have been teammates periodically over the course of a dozen years, first playing men’s golf at the University of North Texas and now playing professionally for LIV Golf.
Ortiz, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Muñoz, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, both came to the North Texas to strengthen their golf game and found fast friendship. More than a decade later, they’re ramping up for a homecoming of sorts as they play in the LIV Golf Dallas 2025 Tournament at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
Ahead of their return to playing on North Texas courses, the duo reflects on their time swinging clubs for UNT Golf.
“You kind of forget how lucky you are to be traveling with your team and not having to pay any expense and just playing great courses and competing all the time,” Muñoz says. “And then when you turn pro and you realize you have to do it all by yourself, it’s kind of different.”
Ortiz echoed admiration for UNT’s golf program and how it prepared them for going pro.
“You have four years to get as good as you can, and I feel that we had everything there to do that,” Ortiz says. “I’m so grateful to UNT for everything they did for us. We sure wouldn’t be here without the support the school gave us, and we’ll be always thankful for them.”
Upon entering their professional careers, both found success on the PGA Tour — Muñoz won the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2019 and Oritz won the 2020 Vivint Houston Open. Both later signed with LIV Golf, which differentiates itself from the PGA Tour by using a unique format, featuring 48-player tournaments played over 54 holes, and including both individual and team competitions.
Ortiz and Muñoz play for Torque GC, a team also featuring Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira.
“I’m part of a team, so I cannot let them down and I cannot let myself down,” Ortiz says. “It’s kind of like you feed off each other. It’s hard to find that in life, let alone in the same team you work with. We’re really fortunate to have the team we have, and when they asked me if it was a hard decision. It wasn’t even a decision — it was made for me.”
Ahead of the LIV Golf Dallas Tournament, UNT men’s golf junior Rafael Estrada, who also grew up in Guadalajara, is excited to watch his hometown hero play at Maridoe.
“It’s very motivating to have some players who went to the same school and are now doing really well professionally,” Estrada says. “Especially because I’m from Mexico and Carlos is Mexican, I definitely look up to him.”
Ortiz is fresh off some impressive play in the U.S. Open at Oakmont, tying for fourth place in his best major championship performance to date and securing exemptions into the 2026 Masters and U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in the process.
Regarding the unique format of LIV Golf, Ortiz says he’s excited to be a part of showing the world a new side of golf.
“I’m having a blast with these people, I’m working harder than ever and we’re traveling the world. I feel like we’re doing a good job showing a different kind of golf,” Ortiz says. “It’s the same sport, just a little bit tweaked, but we’re trying to show that golf can be a little bit different, it can evolve. It’s been awesome doing it around people like them.”
Muñoz says he’s grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow and share life experiences with Ortiz and their Torque teammates.
“It’s so cool to grow up with your fellow teammates and talking about the hard stuff, the good stuff and kind of come to conclusions and make you a better person,” Muñoz says. “I feel like that’s something that’s kind of magical.”