Karl Vilips (-26) has claimed victory at the Puerto Rico Open. It’s his first win on the PGA Tour. On his fourth attempt. The young 23-year-old talent, with an Australian passport and born in Jakarta, Indonesia, is in a hurry. He’s going for professional golf with the pedal to the metal.
He turned professional last year and in his fourth tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour achieved victory in Utah. He could have done it in the third, but he fell just short, finishing in second place. He made up for it the following week. In just ten tournaments in the second division of the American circuit, he secured his PGA Tour card. At full speed.
His plan was to start his adventure in the top elite at the Sony Open in Hawaii, but an untimely injury while playing the Australian Open, where he made the cut and finished in 48th place with a herniated disc, delayed his plans. The last thing someone who achieves success at full speed wants.
His debut on the PGA Tour, beyond the 2023 US Open, which he played as an amateur and where he fought for the cut until the end, took place at the Mexico Open just two weeks ago. He made the cut and finished in 72nd place. He was still getting into gear. Seven days later, he was already 39th at the Cognizant, with a modest final round that caused him to lose positions. Third time’s the charm. Victory at the Puerto Rico Open. He started as the leader with a one-shot advantage and ended up winning by three over the Dane Rasmus Neergaard Petersen.
Don’t think it was a walk in the park. The Nordic golfer pushed to the maximum with an extraordinary charge on the last day. He delivered a card of 63 strokes, the best of the day by far, and set a demanding score of -23. Far from being intimidated, the Stanford student, like Tiger Woods (here begins the connection), responded with birdies. If behind him they were making nine under par, the Australian responded with a sensational round of eight under, including a birdie on the last and three consecutive on holes 13, 14, and 15 that were decisive. Just when the chips were down.
Imperial victory for Vilips, who in the first nine holes had already signed a five-under-par score, including an eagle. It is also the first victory for Tiger Woods as a businessman. Not surprisingly, Vilips made headlines in golf news when it was announced, shortly before the Mexico tournament, that he would become the first professional to wear the clothing brand of Tiger Woods, called Sun Day Red, in homage to those magical Sundays of the Cypress genius where he never failed. His new protégé also did not fail on the first attempt. Good eye from Tiger with the signing and an enormous response from the young golfer with the pressure of knowing you’re wearing Woods’ brand.
The victory gives Vilips two years of PGA Tour card and an invitation to play next week at the THE PLAYERS Championship. A big hit. Those who know him well say he is a very professional player, in capital letters, disciplined and very clear about where he wants to go. He is methodical, organised, consistent, quite mature, and with very clear ideas. He doesn’t let anything interfere with his path to becoming World Number One, his great objective.
It seems clear that Vilips’ victory in Puerto Rico is not just another one. Time will tell, but it feels like this guy is here to stay and eager to make a lot of noise in top-tier professional golf.
On the other hand, a good final round from Ángel Ayora (-9). The Malagueño finished with a card of 69 strokes, in 59th place, with four birdies, three of them in the last four holes, and a solitary bogey. Today he finally managed to get rid of the thorn of hole 9, the par 5 that cost him a +3 score on the first two days. It was his final hole, and he redeemed himself with a great birdie. Another experience to add to the backpack and return to the DP World Tour to tackle the Asia swing.
Besides Neergaard Petersen’s second place, another who is in a hurry in this golf thing, the top ten finish of German Matti Schmid is worth highlighting.
