Karl Vilips announced his arrival on the PGA Tour in emphatic fashion Sunday, capturing his maiden title at the Puerto Rico Open with a final-round 8-under 64. The 23-year-old Australian, making just his fourth PGA Tour start, carded a four-day total of 26-under 262 at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, securing a three-shot victory.
Karl Vilips, a Stanford grad, dominated the Puerto Rico Open with rounds of 65-67-66-64 (26-under 262), clinching a three-shot win in just his 4th PGA Tour start. He soars 📈 from 246th to 106th in @OWGRltd. Oh, and he’s also got a YouTube channel with 38.3k+ subs!
📸 @GolfAust pic.twitter.com/QIJSKpJBdL— Dead Solid Perfect🎙️ (@Deadsolidp) March 10, 2025
Vilips’ breakthrough came with a show of poise down the stretch, closing out his round with a sizzling 5-under run over the final six holes. The turning point came at the par-5 15th, where he drained an eagle putt that all but sealed his coronation. A lone bogey on the card did little to derail his march to victory.
“I was just trying to stay in the present as best I could, not think about it because the job wasn’t finished,” Vilips said after the win. “But once I hit that wedge close on 18, those thoughts definitely started flowing in my head.”
"COME ON!" 😤
Rookie Karl Vilips wins in style after setting a new tournament record for the lowest 72-hole score @PuertoRicoOpen. pic.twitter.com/hnr94iXalF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2025
Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen mounted a charge with a blistering final-round 63, erasing a four-shot deficit to momentarily apply pressure on the back nine. He strung together six consecutive birdies from Nos. 10-15 but ultimately settled for second place at 23 under in his PGA Tour debut.
Veteran Joseph Bramlett (68) secured third at 21 under, while South African amateur Kieron Van Wyk (70) shared fourth with Steven Fisk (68) at 19 under. Van Wyk, 23, briefly flirted with history, attempting to become the second amateur in as many years to win a PGA Tour event on debut before faltering late.
For Vilips, the victory unlocks a world of opportunities—most notably, a two-year PGA Tour exemption and spots in both The Players Championship next week and the PGA Championship later this season.
“Last night, that was about the only thing on my mind—everything that comes with a win here,” Vilips admitted. “I had a hard time getting to sleep. But on the course, it was just about staying in the present, doing what I can do. I think I did a really good job of that.”
Photo – Golf Australia
