The young Australian Karl Vilips (-18) is the leader of the Puerto Rico Open with 18 holes to go. A fantastic round of 66 strokes, with seven birdies and a bogey, has placed him at the top of the leaderboard with a one-stroke advantage over the veteran American Joseph Bramlett (-17) and the South African amateur Kieron Van Wyk (-17). One stroke further back is Austin Cook (-16).
Three weeks ago, Vilips grabbed several headlines in the main golf specialist media. He returned to competition at the Mexico Open in Puerto Vallarta after some time off due to a back injury. He was finally able to enjoy the PGA Tour card he earned through hard work last year on the Korn Ferry Tour in just ten tournaments, including a victory.
However, his prominence had nothing to do with his return, but with how he was going to be dressed at that Mexico Open. The agreement with Sun Day Red was announced, making him the first golfer in history to wear Tiger Woods‘s clothing in top-level competition. Beyond, of course, Tiger himself.
Some analysts were surprised that Tiger did not choose a more renowned golfer as the first ambassador, although the Australian has quickly justified the choice. This Sunday, he will go out as the leader, as Tiger has done many times throughout his career. The difference is that Vilips will not play in red, as Ten Golf has learned. It seemed obvious, but the player has decided so. We imagine he will have enough pressure tomorrow to achieve his first victory on the PGA Tour without adding more burden by wearing red and emulating Tiger. A smart decision.
He is not Tiger and will not play in red, but be very careful with Vilips because his trajectory is sensational. He left his mark at Stanford, the same university where Tiger studied, with extraordinary results, played the US Open as an amateur in 2023, won on the Korn Ferry Tour in his first year, and now, in his third outing of the season on the American circuit, he will go out as the leader. The young man is moving fast. Before, in Mexico and the Cognizant, he made the cut although he did not finish very high.
Vilips has the opportunity to achieve the first victory for Sun Day Red as a brand. The incentive is appealing, and the impact of his possible victory even greater. Let’s remember that if he wins, besides securing the PGA Tour card for two years, he would guarantee his presence in THE PLAYERS.
On the other hand, it was not the moving day that Ángel Ayora (-6) needed. The golfer from Malaga delivered a card of 71 strokes, one under par, completely insufficient in view of the good results recorded this Saturday. Interestingly, he has greatly improved his performance on the par 5s, with three birdies and a par, but he has not maintained it on the rest of the holes. He occupies the 67th position. Tomorrow he would need a very, very low round to grab some points.
