VALLARTA, Mexico — Brian Campbell seized a remarkable opportunity on Sunday when, during a playoff, his tee shot ricocheted off the trees, ultimately landing back in play. This stroke of luck led him to secure a birdie on the second playoff hole, granting him victory at the Mexico Open against Aldrich Potgieter. Campbell wrapped up the tournament with a 1-under 70 at Vidanta Vallarta, marking his first triumph since turning professional a decade ago, with impeccable timing for his career.
His victory qualifies him for prestigious events such as the Masters, The Players Championship, the PGA Championship, in addition to several of the remaining $20 million signature events on the PGA Tour calendar. “To be in this position is just so unreal,” expressed the 31-year-old Campbell after executing a calm birdie putt from just inside 4 feet on the final hole for the win. “I can’t believe it, really.”
While Campbell displayed solid golfing skills, he ultimately relied on a fortunate break to clinch the title. Both he and Potgieter, who carded a 71, managed birdies on the 18th in regulation, leading to a playoff that began with a par for both players. Returning to the par-5 closing hole for the third time in the playoff—an advantageous spot for the powerful 20-year-old South African—Campbell hit a low fade toward the out-of-bounds stakes. Yet, the ball crashed into the trees and bounced back onto the rough. Although he was 94 yards behind Potgieter, he at least had an opportunity to continue the play. He executed a fairway metal shot to land it 68 yards short before using a lob wedge to place it just shy of the hole.
“You’ve got to get those breaks sometimes,” Campbell reflected. “Unfortunately I hit a really bad tee shot there, caught the tree, was able to keep it in play, and got ourselves in a good position to get a wedge and keep the pressure on. I was just so happy that I was able to kind of stay in it to the end.”
Throughout the playoff, Potgieter made two visits to the 18th fairway and had a 6-iron for his second shot. Despite this, he could not convert each opportunity into birdies, making par on both attempts. His first shot sailed over the green, while on the second playoff hole, he came agonizingly close to making a birdie, only to land a foot short into a bunker. After blasting out, he overshot the pin by six feet and missed the birdie attempt, giving Campbell the opening he needed to complete an improbable win.
Previously, Campbell had yet to secure a win in 186 starts across both the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour, accumulating earnings of $1,487,830. His payout for this victory was a significant $1,260,000. Potgieter entered the final round with a one-shot lead, but he struggled with two bogeys that set him back during the front nine. He did catch up to Campbell with a superb recovery on the par-5 14th, and they both finished with a total of 20-under 264 after each making one bogey on the back nine. Despite leading in driving distance throughout the tournament, Potgieter could not capitalize on the par-5 18th hole, where he hit the fairway consistently.
“Hopefully, my time will come soon,” Potgieter reflected. “Pressure is a big thing. You can’t beat it. You just have to learn and adjust to it the next time.” Isaiah Salinda concluded his round with a bogey-free 65, finishing in third place. Aaron Rai, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 29 in the world, briefly tied for the lead after an impressive eagle attempt on the par-5 sixth, eventually finishing 1 over for the remainder of his round for a total of 67, which placed him in a tie for fourth alongside Ben Griffin (67).
Campbell attributed his victory to the grit and determination that transcended Sunday’s round. Having played college golf at Illinois, he was the low amateur in the 2015 U.S. Open and earned a PGA Tour card in 2017, though he faced struggles early on, missing the cut 13 times in 20 starts. His journey has been rocky, including a peculiar slow-play penalty at the Zurich Classic alongside his partner, Miguel Angel Carballo. After a seven-year stint in lower leagues, he emerged as a top competitor, finishing in the top ten on the Korn Ferry Tour, allowing him another opportunity in the PGA Tour.
With this victory, Campbell secures his spot on the Tour through 2027 and is set for a busy schedule in March and April, participating in renowned tournaments including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship, the Masters, and the RBC Heritage.
