SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Rafael Campos always dreamed of becoming a PGA Tour winner. He never imagined when it would happen and what it would mean.
He had missed five straight routes and was in danger of not having a card for any trip. Campos arrived in Bermuda about 90 minutes before his tournament start time, unsure if he would be able to play until his pregnant wife gave birth to their first child on Monday.
No wonder he felt like he was living a fairy tale on Sunday.
He hit all the right shots, none better than a 2-iron to 2 feet on the par-5 seventh during a surge that sent him to a 3-under 68 and a three-shot victory at the Bermuda Championship, joining the late Chi. Chi Rodriguez as the only Puerto Rican player to win on the PGA Tour.
“I can’t believe this is happening to me,” Campos said in tears during an interview on the 18th green.
The 36-year-old Campos, in just his second full year on the PGA Tour, was ranked No. 147 in the FedEx Cup at the close — the season ends next week — to break into the top 125 and retain his card. . That’s what was causing so much pressure inside the ropes.
And then Paola Isabel was born on Monday, giving Campos peace and perspective.
“It’s been a surreal week,” he said. “I’m very happy to be a champion and I don’t have to worry about where I’ll be playing in the next few years.”
He travels to places he has never been. Campos never played in the big game. Now he’s going to the Masters and the PGA Championship. The victory gives him full status on the PGA Tour until 2026.
Campos won by three shots over Andrew Novak, who shot 71 for his best finish on the PGA Tour. Novak pulled within two shots when Campos missed an 18-inch par putt on the par 14th. Campos was unfazed until he lost control of his emotions after the last putt.
“It’s been an unbelievable week — the best week of my life,” he said. “It’s been such a bad year, and to have things go my way — everything came together at the same time — I’m so happy. I’m grateful to call myself a PGA Tour champion. It’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”
Campos, who finished 19-under 265, earned $1.242 million and a two-year release, which could be significant given how difficult it has been to get on the tour over the past decade. Campos enters The Sentry to start the year in Kapalua, along with the Masters, PGA Championship and The Players Championship.
He was tied with Novak to start the final round, and both were quickly passed by Justin Lower, who finished second last week in Mexico.
That changed when Campos executed a flawless, 6-foot birdie putt on No. 6 and an eagle on the next hole. And it changed for Lower, who double-bogeyed the par-3 eighth and never recovered.
Campos used his imagination to hit a shot in the air, and it resulted in No. 10 when his shot went 18 inches for birdie, and on the next hole he hit another birdie putt from 15 feet.
It was then a matter of finish in conditions so windy and difficult that even short putts were being missed. Campos didn’t take a wrong step aside from the 18-inch putt he missed.
A few friends rushed to the 18th to spray him with foam, and he took a swig to celebrate the week he never imagined.
“It’s been a very bad year for hitting the ball,” said Campos. “This game is very difficult when things don’t go well, it’s very difficult to be confident. Things are very different this week. I just don’t know. I’m very grateful.”
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