Monday, November 18, 2024

Rafael Campos claims unlikely maiden victory at Bermuda Championship

rafael campos waves to crowd during final round of 2024 bermuda championship

Rafael Campos fired a final-round 68 to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship for his first PGA Tour victory.

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In the end, Rafael Campos is a winner on the PGA Tour.

Campos, a 36-year-old journeyman in his 14th yr as an expert golfer, fired a final-round 68 at Port Royal Golf Course on Sunday to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The win is simply the second professional victory for the Puerto Rico native and his first on the PGA Tour.

“After such a foul yr, to have issues sort of go my method, every little thing collectively without delay, I’m simply so blissful,” Campos mentioned. “I simply can’t imagine that is truly taking place to me after such a yr. I’m simply grateful to have the ability to name myself a PGA Tour champion. It’s one thing I’ve dreamed about all my life.”

Campos entered the day tied for the lead with Andrew Novak after every posted nine-under 62s within the third spherical, however on a blustery day in Bermuda, Campos bought the higher of his taking part in accomplice. After getting off to a gradual begin in the course of the remaining spherical going one over by 5 holes, Campos went three underneath on Nos. 6 and seven to alter the momentum heading into the again 9.

With birdies on the tenth and eleventh, Campos bought to 19 underneath for the week and constructed a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. He performed the ultimate seven holes in even par to win by three over Novak.

As he brushed in his remaining putt on the par-4 finisher, Campos was overcome by emotion. He let loose a small fist pump and embraced his caddie with tears in his eyes as his fellow execs stormed the greens and doused him in champagne.

To say this win was unlikely could be a little bit of an understatement. Coming into the week, Campos had missed 4 cuts in a row, with simply two made cuts in 15 begins since mid-Could. However regardless of the doubts brought on by his poor play creeping in, Campos by no means gave up hope.

“It’s been such a foul yr ball-striking smart,” Campos mentioned. “This sport is so exhausting when issues aren’t going nicely. It’s so exhausting to be assured. Issues have simply been so completely different this week. I’m simply so grateful to complete on prime of the leaderboard.”

With the win, Campos takes residence a verify price $1.2 million, a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and an invite to the 2025 Masters. Campos additionally joins fellow countryman Chi Chi Rodriguez as the one different participant from Puerto Rico to win on the PGA Tour.

“It’s been an unbelievable week,” Campos mentioned. “Finest week of my life.”

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