Karl Vilips secured his first PGA Tour victory in style at the Puerto Rico Open, finishing with an impressive -26 overall. The Stanford graduate’s win was even more significant as he became the first player to triumph while wearing Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red apparel line.
The 22-year-old Australian shot a final-round 64 (-8) to hold off Danish challenger Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, clinching a three-shot victory. With the win, Vilips not only pocketed $700,000 but also earned coveted spots in both The Players Championship and the PGA Championship.
However, the highlight of his victory came after the tournament when he checked his phone and discovered a voicemail from Tiger Woods himself. “I got on my phone after the round and was scrolling through messages. I saw one from a random number and a missed call. When I listened to the voicemail, it was Tiger,” Vilips shared. “I just couldn’t process it in the moment… that’s pretty cool.”
Woods, who launched his Sun Day Red brand in early 2024, has yet to win on the PGA Tour while wearing his own apparel, making Vilips’ achievement even more special. “It started with mom,” Woods previously explained about his signature red attire. “Mom thought my power color was red, so I wore it as a junior golfer and won some tournaments. Then I went to Stanford, which is red. Now, every Sunday, I wear red—it’s just part of me.”
Meanwhile, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Russell Henley outlasted Collin Morikawa to claim victory at Bay Hill. “I was unbelievably nervous,” Henley admitted. “I’ve watched Tiger, Rory, and Bryson make winning putts here, and it’s cool to know I did it too.”
For Karl Vilips, this victory marks the beginning of what could be a promising career, and with Tiger Woods’ endorsement, the young star is off to a historic start.
