SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Rafael Campos all the time dreamed of being a PGA Tour winner. He by no means may have imagined when it could occur and simply how a lot it could imply.
He had missed 5 straight cuts and was at risk of not having a card on any tour. Campos arrived in Bermuda about 90 minutes earlier than his tee time to start out the event, having been uncertain he may even play till his pregnant spouse had labor induced and gave beginning their to first little one on Monday.
No surprise he felt like he was residing a fairy story Sunday.
He hit all the suitable pictures, none higher than a 2-iron to 2 ft on the par-5 seventh throughout a surge that despatched him to a 3-under 68 and a three-shot victory within the Bermuda Championship, becoming a member of the late Chi Chi Rodriguez as the one Puerto Rican gamers to win on the PGA Tour.
“I simply can’t consider that is truly occurring to me,” Campos mentioned by sobs when he was interviewed on the 18th inexperienced.
The 36-year-old Campos, in solely his second full 12 months on the PGA Tour, was No. 147 within the FedEx Cup with time operating out — the season ends subsequent week — to get into the highest 125 and hold his card. That is what was making a lot stress contained in the ropes.
After which Paola Isabel was born on Monday, giving Campos peace and perspective.
“It has been a surreal week,” he mentioned. “I am simply extraordinarily completely happy to be a champion and never have to fret about the place I will be taking part in the following couple of years.”
He’s going locations he has by no means been. Campos has by no means performed in a serious. Now he’ll the Masters and the PGA Championship. The victory offers him full standing on the PGA Tour by 2026.
Campos gained by three pictures over Andrew Novak, who shot 71 for his greatest PGA Tour end. Novak pulled inside two pictures when Campos missed an 18-inch par putt on the 14th gap. Campos was not rattled till he misplaced management of his feelings after the ultimate putt.
“It has been an unbelievable week — greatest week of my life,” he mentioned. “Such a foul 12 months, and to have issues go my means — the whole lot collectively without delay — I am simply so completely happy. 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 is likely to be extra invaluable contemplating how onerous it has been to only get on tour over the previous decade. Campos will get into The Sentry to start out the 12 months at Kapalua, together with the Masters, the PGA Championship and the Gamers Championship.
He was tied with Novak to start out the ultimate spherical, and each had been handed shortly by Justin Decrease, a runner-up final week in Mexico.
That modified when Campos labored the wind flawlessly, organising a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 6 and the eagle on the following 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 following gap when he rammed in one other birdie putt from 15 ft.
Then it was a matter of ending in circumstances so windy and difficult that even quick putts had been being blown off line. Campos did not take a mistaken step apart of the 18-inch putt he missed.
Just a few buddies rushed onto the 18th inexperienced to spray him with bubbly, and he took a swig to rejoice every week he by no means imagined.
“It has been such a foul 12 months ballstriking clever,” Campos mentioned. “This sport is so onerous when issues aren’t going nicely, so onerous to truly get your self to be assured. Issues have simply been so completely different this week. I simply do not know. I am simply so grateful.”