Karl Vilips secured his first PGA TOUR victory in dominant fashion at the 2025 Puerto Rico Open, finishing three strokes ahead of the field with a record-breaking performance. The 23-year-old Australian, competing in just his third PGA TOUR event as a member, carded a final-round 64 to reach 26-under 262 at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
His win comes after an impressive collegiate career at Stanford and a short but impactful stint on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024. Despite a back injury that delayed his PGA TOUR debut, Vilips has now become the first rookie winner of the season.
What This Win Means for Vilips:
🏆 $720,000 prize money
🏆 300 FedExCup points
🏆 A spot in THE PLAYERS Championship
🏆 Exempt status on the PGA TOUR through 2027
🏆 Entries into the PGA Championship & 2026 Sentry Tournament
While the win does not grant a Masters invitation, Vilips has positioned himself for future high-profile events, including the RBC Heritage through the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 rankings.
Other Notable Performances:
🥈 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen shot a bogey-free 63 to finish solo second in his PGA TOUR debut.
🥉 Joseph Bramlett finished third, marking his best career result in 159 starts.
🎟️ Kieron Van Wyk (amateur) finished in the top 10, earning a spot in the Valspar Championship under the new PGA TOUR exemption rule for amateurs.
With this breakthrough win, Karl Vilips has officially arrived on the PGA TOUR scene, proving that patience and resilience pay off in professional golf.
