Rookie Karl Vilips, new Tiger Woods-brand ambassador, wins first PGA Excursion match in Puerto Rico

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Karl Vilips of Australia ran off 3 directly birdies to damage out of an surprising duel and performed his easiest golfing down the stretch Sunday for an 8-under 64 to win the Puerto Rico Open, his first PGA Excursion victory in simply his 3rd get started as a professional.The brand new “Solar Day Purple” model of Tiger Woods decorated the attire of a PGA Excursion winner, and it was once Vilips, the Stanford alum who has constructed his lifestyles round enjoying at the PGA Excursion for so long as he can take into accout.The victory will get him into The Avid gamers Championship subsequent week and the PGA Championship in Might, at the side of a two-year exemption at the PGA Excursion.“It’s a dream come true for me and my dad,” stated Vilips, relating to a father who helped create a trail to a U.S. college since Vilips was once 11, a best junior occupation and scholarship to Stanford. The 23-year-old spent 12 months at the Korn Ferry Excursion.“That is what we dreamed of as a child,” he stated.Vilips answered to a sensational rate by way of Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, who birdied six directly holes to start out the again 9 and closed with a 63. The Dane in short took the lead when Vilips made a bogey at the twelfth hollow with a wedge from the green.Vilips by no means flinched. He birdied the following 3 holes, together with a nifty pitch to arrange birdie at the par-5 14th hollow to regain the lead, and a tee shot to five ft for birdie at the par-3 fifteenth.He was once by no means out of place the remainder of the best way and holed a 6-foot birdie putt at the ultimate hollow for a three-shot victory.“Come on!” he yelled when the general birdie fell.Neergaard-Petersen was once enjoying on a commissioner’s exemption for world avid gamers. He fell again with a 73 on Saturday after which got here charging at the ultimate day.The runner-up end will get him into the Valspar Championship in two weeks.“After I made the putt at the fifteenth is once I concept if I will be able to submit a just right quantity, we’ll see,” Neergaard-Petersen stated. “I’m tremendous satisfied for the day. I’m having a look ahead to any other alternative.”Joseph Bramlett, any other Stanford alum, shot 68 to complete by myself in 3rd, 5 pictures in the back of.Kieron Van Wyk, the South African seeking to grow to be the second one newbie in as a few years to win at the PGA Excursion, didn’t make sufficient birdies to take care of. He completed with a 70 and tied for fourth with Steven Fisk (68).Vilips, who completed at 26-under 262, earned $720,000. For the reason that event was once held the similar week because the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he does no longer get a Masters invitation by way of profitable.