Karl Vilips is doing Tiger Woods proud.
The 23-year-old Australian golf sensation etched his identify into the historical past books this weekend with a shock victory on his simply fourth PGA Tour begin.
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Vilips withstood a fierce problem from Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen to safe a three-shot triumph and change into one in all solely 12 gamers since 1970 to win on the world’s greatest tour in one in all his first 4 begins.
And he did it whereas repping legendary 15-time main champion Woods.
The Stanford alum grew to become a model ambassador for Tiger’s ‘Solar Day Purple’ attire final month and has change into the primary to win on the PGA Tour carrying the clothes.
Vilips additionally acquired quite a lot of message from the previous world No 1 throughout and after his life-changing victory.
“It was powerful as a result of I bought on my cellphone after the spherical and I used to be simply scrolling, like who was texting me?” Vilips mentioned after his win.
“I bought one from a random quantity that referred to as me as properly.
“Then there was a voicemail saying it is Tiger and I could not course of it within the second, I used to be simply making an attempt to – I will get again to that later. That is fairly cool.”
The official X account for Solar Day Purple additionally despatched Vilips a message of congratulations after the Puerto Rico Open.
“The rookie delivers! Karl Vilips at all times knew he needed to compete below the brightest lights in golf,” the X publish learn.
“On the Puerto Rico Open, he delivered precisely that – capturing his first PGA Tour victory with a efficiency that matched the second. Congratulations, Karl!”
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Following his massive win, Vilips mentioned his model take care of Solar Day Purple, echoing solutions that he has ‘delivered’ for Woods.
He mentioned: “I signed it three weeks in the past, so not too lengthy since a Solar Day Purple participant has bought a win.
“I believe it is actually particular. I believe it reveals me that there is a purpose why they selected me to rep their model and I am simply joyful to have the ability to do it in a means as myself.”
Vilips’ victory on the Grand Reserve Golf Membership will get him into this week’s Gamers Championship and the PGA Championship in Might, together with a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
He has additionally pocketed a cheque for $720,000 due to a hard-fought win.
The Australian ran off three straight birdies to interrupt out of an sudden duel and performed his greatest golf when it mattered most on Sunday, for an 8-under 64 to win.
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He held off a sensational cost by Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, who birdied six straight holes to begin 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 golf green.
However the younger star by no means flinched and he birdied the following three holes, together with a nifty pitch to arrange birdie on the par-5 14th gap to regain the lead.
From there, he was by no means out of place the remainder of the way in which and sunk a 6-foot birdie putt on the ultimate gap for a three-shot victory.
“It is a dream come true for me and my dad,” Vilips mentioned after victory, referring to a father who helped create a path to a US faculty since he was 11, a prime junior profession and scholarship to Stanford.
“That is what we dreamed of as a child.”