On Sunday, the Grand Reserve Golf Club witnessed the rise of a new star as 23-year-old Australian rookie Karl Vilips captured the Puerto Rico Open, securing his maiden PGA Tour victory in sensational fashion. In just his fourth start on the American tour, Vilips set a tournament-record 72-hole score, finishing at 26-under par to claim the title by three strokes over a hard-charging Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
The final round was a showcase of Vilips’ precocious talent and cool-headed resolve. Starting the day with a one-shot lead, he fired a bogey-free 8-under 64, punctuated by a birdie barrage on the back nine that left his competitors scrambling to keep pace. The defining moment came on the par-3 15th, where Vilips stuck his tee shot to three feet and rolled in the birdie to extend his lead, effectively slamming the door on any late drama.
“I’ve dreamed of this since I was a kid,” Vilips said after the round, his voice tinged with emotion. “To get it done so early in my career—it’s surreal.”
Vilips’ week was a masterclass in consistency. He opened with a 65 on Thursday, followed by a 67 on Friday to head into the weekend among the lead pack. A third-round 66 secured the 54-hole pole position, setting the stage for Sunday’s coronation. His 262 score eclipsed the previous tournament record by five shots, a testament to his aggressive play and pinpoint iron game on the wide-open, wind-swept Grand Reserve layout.
“Yeah, I didn’t realize I broke the scoring record by five, that’s pretty cool,” said Vilips, a former Stanford star. “I think the putter got hot this week. I think it’s a course where if you’re in the fairway, you can take advantage of it. I just did a pretty good job this week of making sure at all costs I was in the fairway and if I did miss, I was on the right side.
“Honestly, the wind, it’s a lot like Jacksonville, so as long as you’re able to deal with the wind, you still should have plenty of chances. And I just hit it to the right spots. Whenever I got in some trouble, I left it in a good spot. I think I only made three bogeys for a week.
“That’s a big thing for me, keeping those mistakes off the course, and I feel like I had this course pretty figured out at the end.”
Neergaard-Petersen, who held the halftime lead, shot a final-round 63 to grab solo second on 23 under, two clear of Joseph Bramlett (68), who finished alone in third.
Neither, though, could match Vilips’ relentless pace. The rookie’s poise stood out on a leaderboard dotted with seasoned pros, many of whom faltered under the tropical breeze and tricky greens.
For Vilips, a former standout at Stanford and a highly touted amateur, the win marks a rapid ascent. The $720,000 winner’s check and 300 FedEx Cup points vault him into the tour’s spotlight, earning him exemptions into bigger events and a wave of buzz among golf fans.
As the sun set over Grand Reserve on Sunday, Vilips hoisted the trophy, a wide grin breaking through his typically stoic demeanor. The Puerto Rico Open had its champion — and the PGA Tour had a new star.
Puerto Rico Open
Final Leaderboard: Top 10
Pos-Player-Score (Final Rd)
1. Karl Vilips -26 (-8)
2. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen -23 (-9)
3. Joseph Bramlett -21 (-4)
4. Steven Fisk -19 (-4)
4. Kieron Van Wyk -19 (-2)
6. Matti Schmid -18 (-6)
6. Davis Riley -18 (-4)
6. Kevin Roy -18 (-4)
6. William Mouw -18 (-3)
10. Brandt Snedeker -17 (-5)
10. Carson Young -17 (-4)
Credit: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images, Grok
