KAPALUA, Hawaii — The cream-colored envelope arrived on the Puerto Rico residence of Rafael Campos on Dec. 23, and there was no mistaking who it was from — Augusta Nationwide — or what it contained. That’s why he waited a number of days to open it and discover his invitation to the Masters.
“I needed that to be my Christmas current,” Campos mentioned. “And it was surreal. Simply making an attempt to know, ‘That is actually taking place, proper?’ And it was so cool.”
Six weeks after the 36-year-old Campos delivered a type of feel-good moments in golf by profitable the Bermuda Championship, he nonetheless has a tough time fathoming what occurred.
He feared he must miss the Bermuda Championship as a result of his spouse was due with their first youngster. He introduced their daughter residence and arrived in Bermuda some two hours earlier than his tee time. After which he gained.
No surprise he can’t cease smiling.
“No less than one evening of the week for the final month-and-a-half, my spouse have made an announcement like, ‘It actually occurred,’” Campos mentioned.
However for the way for much longer?
The PGA Tour has a protracted historical past of such moments, they usually would possibly occur so much much less usually underneath the brand new construction for 2026 . Solely the highest 100 gamers — down from 125 — preserve full playing cards. Subject sizes are shrinking. Monday qualifying spots are being lowered. That is extra minimize throat.
Campos remembers when he first heard rumblings of this new system.
“Behind my thoughts I used to be like, ‘Man, it’s going to be even more durable for us now,’” he mentioned. “I’m not a fan of it. I perceive why they’re doing it, like slicing time so everybody can end, and supposedly it’s for the sponsors. Then once more, you’re taking away jobs from us. And it’s not simple. There’s so many 1000’s and 1000’s of unbelievable golfers that need to be there.”
The out-of-nowhere victory — the primary by a Puerto Rican because the beloved Chi Chi Rodriguez, who had died three months earlier — is what introduced Campos to Maui for the beginning of a PGA Tour season that he figured wouldn’t embody him.
It gave him job safety for 2 years, one thing he has by no means had, and an opportunity to plan a schedule as a substitute of hoping tournaments had room for him. And sure, he’s going to the Masters.
None of this appeared remotely attainable for a lot of the yr.
Campos discovered his spouse, Stephanie, was pregnant within the spring and all he might take into consideration was ensuring he might present for them. After which he began lacking cuts, three in a row, then 9 in a row. He was operating out of time, and so was his spouse.
Her due date was the Sunday of the Bermuda Championship, the penultimate match of the season. Campos was No. 147 within the FedExCup, and even when he stayed within the prime 150, possibilities to play have been going to be severely restricted in 2025.
He couldn’t afford to overlook Bermuda.
“I’ve all the time had a backup plan,” mentioned Campos, who turned professional after taking part in at Virginia Commonwealth and who had managed just one earlier season within the large leagues. “This was the primary time — truthfully, issues have been going extraordinarily dangerous — I didn’t have a fallback plan. It was robust on my thoughts figuring out that, ‘Man, I labored so onerous for 15 years, I might lose every thing and begin again at sq. one.’”
His spouse steered they induce labor. Campos was not keen to depart Puerto Rico till he might convey his spouse and youngster residence. Their daughter, Paola, was born Monday night and he was in a position to convey them residence Wednesday, lower than 24 hours earlier than his tee time.
“I keep in mind telling my spouse, ‘Can I’ve 20 minutes with the infant, simply on my own within the room?’ It was so cool simply holding her,” he mentioned.
Gone was the stress of making an attempt to make cuts the final six months, changed by peace and pleasure. After which he flew to Boston, arriving after midnight and sleeping within the airport till his connection to Bermuda within the morning. He arrived at Port Royal just below two hours from his tee time.
That’s usually sufficient time to organize to tee off, besides Campos saved speaking concerning the delivery of his little lady. What adopted the subsequent 4 days is a blur.
Campos struggled along with his ball-striking and to get begins this yr, however the 36-year-old from Puerto Rico gained the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Sunday for his maiden Tour title.
He made the minimize after which shot 62 within the third spherical to tie for the lead. And on Sunday, he held his nerve and pulled away with a 68 to win by three. A Golf Channel reporter approached him on the 18th inexperienced and Campos was sobbing.
“I simply can’t imagine that is taking place to me,” he mentioned.
The $1,242,000 was greater than he had gained in his earlier 53 begins on the PGA Tour. However this wasn’t about simply cash. This was about being a tour winner, a lifelong dream. He didn’t even understand he could be going to Kapalua, a lot much less the Masters.
He thought again to when he was 9 and his father was invited to play golf for the primary time, pondering it could take an hour or two. He dropped his children off on the driving vary. Six hours later, Campos was nonetheless hitting the little white golf ball. He was hooked.
After which in his 14th yr as a professional, the week he grew to become a father and feared shedding his job, he gained the Bermuda Championship.
How did that occur?
“It’s humorous how everyone says, ‘All it takes is one week.’ And also you all the time imagine it and all that, however you don’t understand it. It’s true on this sport. One week can actually change your life and your loved ones’s life.”
