While most of the big names on the PGA TOUR were playing at Bay Hill in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, the rest of the PGA TOUR pros were headed to the Grand Reserve Golf Club for the Puerto Rico Open for the season’s first “Additional Event.” After a beautiful week of golf, 23-year-old Karl Vilips claimed his first PGA TOUR victory in just his fourth career start.
First win for the rookie! 🏆
23-year-old Karl Vilips wins in just his fourth TOUR start @PuertoRicoOpen. pic.twitter.com/BW068xj68w
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2025
Vilips earned a PGA TOUR card last season on the Korn Ferry Tour where he posted seven top-25 finishes in 10 events and won the Utah Championship. Vilips opened this week’s Puerto Rico Open at +7500 to win the week, but he claimed the victory this week despite battling stomach problems all week long.
He opened the week with a 65 on Thursday and was one stroke better with a 64 on Sunday to finish at -26 for the tournament. He had an eagle and three birdies on his front nine and added four more birdies with a bogey on the back nine, including a birdie on his final hole. He started the day in the lead and showed plenty of nerve as he held off a charge from Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen who finished solo second after a nine-under Final Round, the low round of the day. Joseph Bramlett finished alone in third while Steven Fisk and South American amateur Kieron Van Wyk tied for third.
Vilips made waves earlier this year by becoming the first PGA TOUR golfer to sign Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red clothing line. Like Tiger, Vilips is a Stanford alumnus, and he was hand-picked by Woods to represent his new brand. Vilips brings lots of international appeal since he was born in Indonesia and raised in Australia, and now it looks like Tiger picked just the right golfer on the rise.
Sun Day Red, in a newsletter to its subscribers shortly after the trophy ceremony at Grand Reserve, said the following of Vilips and Woods:
When Karl Vilips joined Sun Day Red, he spoke of his desire to compete under the brightest lights in golf. At the Puerto Rico Open, he delivered exactly that—capturing his first PGA TOUR victory with a performance that matched the moment. The former Stanford standout and World No. 1 amateur showed veteran composure throughout the week, securing not just the trophy but also a spot in the PGA Championship. For Sun Day Red’s first Tour ambassador, this breakthrough win validates Tiger’s confidence in Karl, who has quickly risen from prodigy to PGA TOUR champion.
In his previous events on the PGA TOUR this season, Vilips made the cut both times but hadn’t finished in the top 25.
Even though this is an Additional Event, the Puerto Rico Open has been a nice proving ground for some future rising golf stars over the last few years. Past winners who went on to success on the PGA TOUR include Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland and Nico Echavarria.
In addition to joining that prestigious list, Vilips also gets $720,000 for the victory. He earns 300 FedEx Cup points, 22.3 Official World Golf Ranking points, a two-year PGA Tour exemption, and a spot in next week’s THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship later this season.
