There’s a world where Rafael Campos wasn’t even in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Last year, he finished 30th in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings to earn his PGA Tour card, and that came only after a penalty dropped Shad Tuten from the 30th spot, allowing Campos to slide up and earn the final PGA Tour card available.
Fast forward 13 months, Campos was on the outside looking in of the FedEx Cup top 125, needing to do something special to keep his PGA Tour card for the 2025 season in one of the season’s last events.
And that’s exactly what he did.
Campos earned his first PGA Tour victory Sunday, winning the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course during a breezy final round. He started the week at 147th in the FedEx Cup standings but will move to 80th after the win, on top of numerous other accolades that come with winning a PGA Tour event.
Butterfield: Leaderboard
As if that wasn’t enough, Campos and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed their first child on Monday. He didn’t even get to Bermuda until Wednesday, then he won.
“Best week of my life,” Campos said in his TV interview, struggling to talk through his tears. “I can’t wait to call my family.”
A $1,242,000 winner’s check. A 2025 Masters invitation. Job security for 2025 and beyond. All thanks to a brilliant performance in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean over 72 holes.
The win came following a season that wasn’t too strong. He missed 16 cuts in 23 starts coming into the week, including 13 of his past 15 starts. Campos did finish in the top 10 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, but outside of that, it was a season to forget.
Rafael Campos of Puerto Rico reacts to a putt on the ninth green during the final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course on November 17, 2024 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Until Sunday.
Campos shot 3-under 68 in the final round, including an eagle on the par-5 seventh that gave him the lead for good. He topped Andrew Novak by three shots for his maiden victory, with Campos finishing at 19-under 265.
Campos is the 14th first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season and the third during the FedEx Cup Fall. He’s also the second Puerto Rican to win on Tour, joining Chi-Chi Rodriguez.
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