Australian Karl Vilips, a winner in Puerto Rico in simply his fourth begin on the PGA TOUR.
FOR Australian Karl Vilips, whereas it has seemingly occurred in a short time, it’s additionally been a very long time coming.
A baby prodigy, who gained two US Children Championships at seven and 9 years of age, then a Callaway Junior World Championship at 10, large issues have lengthy been predicted for the now 23-year-old who spent his youth taking part in in Mandurah in WA, earlier than shifting to America as a young person.
Now in simply his fourth begin on the PGA TOUR, Vilips has fulfilled the potential and expectations in successful the Puerto Rico Open.
After capturing 65 on day one, Vilips was there or thereabouts all week, main into the again 9 on Sunday, earlier than being pressured to carry off the problem of Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen to attain a three-shot victory.
The win earned Vilips a two-year PGA TOUR exemption, catapulted him into The Gamers Championship, right into a begin within the PGA Championship later within the 12 months, and into the PGA TOUR’s restricted discipline signature occasions, to not point out additionally depositing a cheque for US$720,000 into his checking account.
After the slip up on 12 within the final spherical, Vilips would birdie the par 4 thirteenth, make additional birdies on the 14th and fifteenth holes, earlier than one other birdie on 18 sealed the win.
“The bogey was careless. I used to be annoyed about that, with a wedge from the green I used to be pondering birdie to present myself a cushion on the leaderboard,” Vilips mentioned. “I needed to neglect about it, it’s already occurred, and you’ll’t do something about it. My caddy did job getting me again within the current.
“To have the ability to bounce again was enormous for me. It’s fairly particular for (a win) to occur so early on,” he added.
As detailed in an Inside Golf profile within the September 2024 version, Vilips grew up in Melbourne earlier than his household moved to Perth. He would spend the final a part of his highschool years within the US, then attend Stanford College on a scholarship, the place he gained the Pac-12 particular person title, a major occasion on the US faculty schedule.
Upon commencement, along with his PGA TOUR College rating of 10 incomes him conditional standing on the Korn Ferry Tour, Vilips would win the Utah Championship at simply his sixth event as a professional, the victory serving to to safe membership on the PGA TOUR in 2025.
And now, in simply his third occasion on the PGA TOUR in 2024 (Vilips performed the 2023 US Open as an beginner) he’s already a winner.
“It’s loopy to me that I graduated from faculty lower than a 12 months in the past. The final eight-nine months have simply flown by,” he mentioned.
“For those who informed me lower than a 12 months in the past after I was at Stanford that I’d be a PGA TOUR winner at this level in my profession, I feel I’d be a little bit shocked.”
Whereas basking within the glory of the largest triumph of his transient professional profession, Vilips mirrored on the journey that had taken him from WA, to the US and ultimately to Puerto Rico, whereas acknowledging the help of his household and that of Australian Col Swatton for taking part in their half in his most up-to-date success.
“I’ve bought a tremendous workforce round me, that pushes me and guides me in the best route to do the best issues. And that is the results of that,” Vilips mentioned.
“He (father Paul) has been an enormous affect on my life and my golf, pushing me from a younger age,” Vilips expressed. “We’ve been going by this collectively for the final 23 years. He’s been enormous in my life.”
As for Swatton, Vilips defined the affect the Queensland coach had made for the reason that pair linked up some 4 or 5 years in the past.
“I began working with him proper earlier than faculty. My swing wasn’t basically sound earlier than, however I simply bought the job performed on uncooked expertise.
“He was capable of make (my swing) constant, to have the ability to swing my swing however to additionally make it technically sound,” Vilips defined.
Following two weeks in Florda, at The Gamers then on the Valspar occasion, Vilips was set to transform his taking part in schedule for 2025, with the victory opening up alternatives for a younger man who to some is an in a single day sensation, however one which has been 20 years within the making.
