Karl Vilips secured a last-minute invite to The Gamers and have become the primary golfer to win on the PGA Tour carrying Tiger Woods’ model with a formidable victory on the Puerto Rico Open.
Vilips, making simply his fourth PGA Tour begin and third since turning skilled, fired a superb eight-under 64 on the ultimate day at Grand Reserve Golf Membership to finish the week on 26 below and declare a three-shot victory.
The 23-year-old grew to become a model ambassador for Woods’ “Sun Day Red” attire final month and is the primary to win on the PGA Tour carrying the clothes, with Vilips receiving messages from the previous world No 1 throughout and after his career-changing victory.
“It was tough because I got on my phone after the round and I was just scrolling, like who was texting me?” Vilips mentioned after his win. “I got one from a random number that called me as well.
“Then there was a voicemail saying it is Tiger and I could not like course of it within the second, I used to be simply attempting to – I am going to get again to that later. That is fairly cool.
“I signed it [deal with Sun Day Red] three weeks ago, so not too long since a Sun Day Red player has got a win. I think it’s really special. I think it shows me that there’s a reason why they chose me to rep their brand and I’m just happy to be able to do it in a way as myself.”
The Australian’s win earns him a spot in The Gamers at TPC Sawgrass and the PGA Championship in Might, together with a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
“I’m just excited to sleep in my own bed, cook my own meals, be with my room-mates,” Vilips – who lives in Jacksonville – mentioned about The Gamers. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. Never really had a chance to do a home tournament.
“Clearly simply shifting there in November, I performed a course a bunch. It has been wanting actually good. Final time I performed it was three weeks in the past so I am positive by now it is in pristine form and I am actually excited.
“That was the big goal, I wanted to get into The Players and I knew I had to win this week to do it. It’s just a dream come true to be able to play in that tournament.”
Vilips responded to a sensational cost by Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, who birdied six straight holes to start out the again 9 and closed with a 63. The Dane briefly took the lead when Vilips made a bogey on the twelfth gap with a wedge from the green.
Vilips by no means flinched as he birdied the following three holes, together with a intelligent pitch to arrange birdie on the par-five 14th gap to regain the lead earlier than a five-foot birdie on the par-three subsequent.
A final-hole birdie prolonged Vilips’ profitable margin over Neergaard-Petersen, whereas Joseph Bramlett ended 5 strokes again in third and newbie Kieron Van Wyk shared fourth spot with Steven Fisk.
Who will win The Gamers? Watch from March 13-16 dwell on Sky Sports activities. Reside protection from the opening spherical begins on Thursday from 11.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
