Rafael Campos started the day with a share of the lead after a third-round 62 and produced an eagle at the par-5 7th, four birdies and three bogeys for a 68 to win his first PGA Tour title by three shots at 19-under.
“I had 261 to the hole [at the 7th]. I hit a 2-iron. I kind of flared the driver a little bit but it was fine, it was on the fairway. I remember I had 241 to get over a bunker that’s like in the middle of the green and I had 261 to the pin. Fortunately, the wind was not helping, which is — it wasn’t hurting, but it wasn’t helping. I was only scared if it went over,” said Campos.
“That was the first shot on the day that I actually felt nerves, that I put my club behind the ball and I saw it shaking and I’m like, oh, let’s just try to commit to a good swing. As soon as I hit it I’m like, man, that’s as good as I can hit it. I was really happy that I was able to really make a great swing specifically at that moment.
“I didn’t know it was like a couple feet from the hole, so that was a turnaround in the round. Very few times — I think I was more nervous on the shorter putts because of the wind. I didn’t really mind the longer putts or 15-, 20-footers, but anytime I got into three-foot range I just saw the ball kind of wanting to wobble and it’s like ah, kind of tentative strokes. That was tough today though.”
His victory comes in his 80th start on Tour at the age of 36 and one week after the birth of his first child.
“Just extremely grateful to have had this opportunity and especially such an unbelievable week with my daughter. I’m just extremely happy to be a champion and not have to worry about where I’m going to be playing the next couple of years. That was something that was bothering me for the last like six months and ironic how everything just flipped and fortunately I can just go out and enjoy and play golf.”
He started the week at no.147 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings after thirteen missed cuts in his last fifteen starts and moves up to no.80.
Campos becomes the second Puerto Rico native to win on Tour and the first since Chi Chi Rodriguez (eight wins between 1963-1979).
54-hole co-leader Andrew Novak of the United States followed his career-low PGA Tour round of 9-under 62 with an even-par 71 to finish solo-second at 16-under. His career-best finish marks his fifth top 10 of the season and seventh overall on Tour. He moves from No. 93 in the FedExCup Fall standings to No. 70.
“I played great this week, very happy about that,” said Novak. “Score was close, you know. Rafa played great and I gave it a good shot today. It was so hard to make putts today. I’ve never — so many short misses, stuff like that. Greens haven’t been cut since Friday, it’s blowing 30, two feet isn’t even safe. Like it was so scary today.”
On the heels of missed cuts in seven of his last nine starts on Tour before this week, Adrien Dumont de Chassart posted four rounds in the 60s to finish T3 at 15-under alongside American Mark Hubbard who closed with a 66. The Belgian rookie’s lone top-10 finish prior to this week was T6/Puerto Rico Open.
American Justin Lower who held the lead after the first and second rounds shot a final-round 71 for a share of fifth place at 14-under alongside compatriots Vince Whaley (68) and Sam Ryder (69).
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Nos. 1-50 in the FedExCup standings through the Tour Championship are locked in their positions, while Nos. 51 and beyond carry their FedExCup points into the Fall. Nos. 51-60 through the FedExCup Fall will qualify for two Signature Events in 2025: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational. No players moved into Nos. 51-60 this week.
The Top 125 will be exempt into all Full-Field events and The Players next season and Nos. 126-150 will earn full Korn Ferry Tour status and conditional status on Tour next season.
