SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Rafael Campos felt like he was dwelling a fairy story Sunday when he went from being on the verge of shedding his PGA Tour card to successful the Bermuda Championship, simply six days after his spouse gave delivery to their first youngster in time to let him play.
Campos drilled his strategy to 2 ft for eagle on the par-5 seventh gap throughout a surge that carried him to a 3-under 68 for a three-shot victory, becoming a member of the late Chi Chi Rodriguez as the one gamers from Puerto Rico to win on the PGA Tour.
The 36-year-old Campos has by no means performed in a significant. Now he’ll the Masters. This was solely his second full yr on the PGA Tour. The win makes him exempt by 2026.
“I simply cannot consider that is really taking place to me,” Campos stated by the sobs when he was interviewed on the 18th inexperienced after tapping in for par.
He received by three pictures over Andrew Novak, who shot 71 for his finest PGA Tour end. Novak pulled inside two pictures when Campos missed an 18-inch par putt on the 14th par. Campos was not rattled, hitting all the suitable pictures in a ferocious wind on the closing holes.
The tears started flowing moments after he tapped in for par and tried to know what occurred.
Campos was No. 147 within the FedEx Cup with solely two tournaments left, and he wasn’t positive he may make it to Bermuda. He and spouse determined to induce labor, and Paola Isabel was born Monday.
Coming off 5 straight missed cuts — Campos missed eight in a row earlier within the season — he made it to Bermuda in time and now not felt the stress of being on exterior of the highest 125. Campos had stated on Saturday the enjoyment of their first youngster introduced perspective and peace.
The consequence was one of the best efficiency in his eightieth profession begin on the PGA Tour.
“It has been an unbelievable week — finest week of my life,” he stated. “Such a nasty yr, and to have issues go my approach — all the pieces collectively without delay — I am simply so blissful. I am grateful to name myself a PGA Tour champion. It is one thing I’ve dreamt about my whole life.”
Campos, who completed at 19-under 265, earned $1.242 million and a two-year exemption, which could be extra worthwhile. This was solely his second yr incomes a full card. Campos will get into The Sentry to begin the yr at Kapalua, together with the Masters, the PGA Championship and The Gamers Championship.
He was tied with Novak to begin the ultimate spherical, and each have been handed shortly by Justin Decrease, a runner-up final week in Mexico.
That modified when Campos labored the wind flawlessly, establishing a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 6 and the eagle on the subsequent gap. And it modified for Decrease, who four-putted for double bogey on the par-3 eighth and by no means fairly recovered.
Campos used his creativeness in hitting pictures by the wind, and it paid off on No. 10 when his shot rolled out to 18 inches for birdie, and on the subsequent gap when he rammed in one other birdie putt from 15 ft.
Then it was a matter of ending in situations so windy and difficult that even brief putts have been being blown off-line. Campos did not take a improper step exterior of the 18-inch putt he missed.
A couple of pals rushed onto the 18th inexperienced to spray him with bubbly, and he took a swig to have a good time every week he by no means imagined.
“It has been such a nasty yr ball-striking clever,” Campos stated. “This recreation is so laborious when issues aren’t going effectively, so laborious to really get your self to be confidence. Issues have simply been so totally different this week. I simply do not know. I am simply so grateful.”
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