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In the end, Rafael Campos is a winner on the PGA Tour.
Campos, a 36-year-old journeyman in his 14th yr as knowledgeable golfer, fired a final-round 68 at Port Royal Golf Course on Sunday to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The win is simply the second professional victory for the Puerto Rico native and his first on the PGA Tour.
“After such a foul yr, to have issues type of go my method, the whole lot collectively directly, I’m simply so completely satisfied,” Campos mentioned. “I simply can’t consider that is really taking place to me after such a yr. I’m simply grateful to have the ability to name myself a PGA Tour champion. It’s one thing I’ve dreamed about all my life.”
Campos entered the day tied for the lead with Andrew Novak after every posted nine-under 62s within the third spherical, however on a blustery day in Bermuda, Campos acquired the higher of his enjoying accomplice. After getting off to a gradual begin in the course of the ultimate spherical going one over via 5 holes, Campos went three below on Nos. 6 and seven to vary the momentum heading into the again 9.
With birdies on the tenth and eleventh, Campos acquired to 19 below for the week and constructed a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. He performed the ultimate seven holes in even par to win by three over Novak.
As he brushed in his ultimate putt on the par-4 finisher, Campos was overcome by emotion. He let loose a small fist pump and embraced his caddie with tears in his eyes as his fellow professionals stormed the greens and doused him in champagne.
To say this win was unlikely can be a little bit of an understatement. Coming into the week, Campos had missed 4 cuts in a row, with simply two made cuts in 15 begins since mid-Could. However despite the doubts attributable to his poor play creeping in, Campos by no means gave up hope.
“It’s been such a foul yr ball-striking smart,” Campos mentioned. “This recreation is so onerous when issues aren’t going properly. It’s so onerous to be assured. Issues have simply been so totally different this week. I’m simply so grateful to complete on high of the leaderboard.”
With the win, Campos takes residence a verify value $1.2 million, a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and an invite to the 2025 Masters. Campos additionally joins fellow countryman Chi Chi Rodriguez as the one different participant from Puerto Rico to win on the PGA Tour.
“It’s been an unbelievable week,” Campos mentioned. “Greatest week of my life.”
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