KAPALUA, Hawaii — On December 23, Rafael Campos received a distinguishable cream-colored envelope at his home in Puerto Rico from the prestigious Augusta National, containing the much-coveted invitation to the Masters. Campos decided to wait a few days before opening it, wanting to savor the moment as a special Christmas gift. “It was surreal. Just trying to understand, ‘Is this really happening?’ It was so cool,” he expressed after finally unveiling the contents of the envelope.
Six weeks after he captivated the golf world by clinching victory at the Bermuda Championship, the 36-year-old Campos still finds it hard to believe the chain of events that led to his triumph. He had initially feared that he might miss the Bermuda Championship because his wife was due to give birth to their first child. Just two hours prior to his tee time, he made it to Bermuda after bringing their newborn daughter home. Incredibly, he secured the victory.
The joy on Campos’ face is unmistakable, as he reflects on the last month and a half. “At least one night a week, my wife will say, ‘It really happened,’” he remarked, still overjoyed about his win. But he ponders how long this bliss will last, especially with the new changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2026 that may shift the landscape significantly. Only the top 100 players will maintain full PGA Tour cards, down from the current 125, leading to a more competitive environment with reduced field sizes and fewer qualifying spots.
When Campos first heard about this change, concern crept in. “In the back of my mind I was like, ‘Man, it’s going to be even harder for us now,’” he shared. While he understands that these alterations aim to streamline events and satisfy sponsors, he fears it will reduce opportunities for many talented golfers. He emphasized that numerous exceptional players deserve their shot at success on the PGA Tour.
Campo’s unexpected victory marked the first win by a Puerto Rican golfer since the late Chi Chi Rodriguez, who passed away just three months prior. This win has given him job security for the next two years—something he had never before experienced. With this victory, Campos can now strategize his schedule with confidence and, of course, prepare for the Masters.
Reflecting back, Campos recalls how improbable this moment seemed for a significant part of the year. He discovered in the spring that his wife, Stephanie, was pregnant, which focused his thoughts on work and maintaining their financial stability. Unfortunately, he started struggling with poor performance on the course, missing three cuts in a row and then enduring a streak of nine consecutive misses. With the season winding down and his wife’s due date looming on the same day as the Bermuda Championship—his second to last chance of the season—pressure mounted.
Being ranked No. 147 in the FedEx Cup standings, Campos faced the sobering reality that even if he remained in the top 150, opportunities to compete would be drastically reduced in 2025. He understood the immense importance of participating in the Bermuda Championship.
“This was the first time… I did not have a fallback plan. It was tough on my mind,” Campos explained, recalling his journey from turning professional after playing at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he had only experienced one season on the PGA Tour. His wife suggested inducing labor, but Campos was reluctant to leave Puerto Rico until he could bring his family home. Their daughter, Paola, was born on a Monday night, allowing him to take them home just hours before he was slated to tee off.
“I remember telling my wife, ‘Can I have 20 minutes with the baby, just by myself in the room?’ It was so special just holding her,” he said. This experience replaced the months of stress with a newfound sense of peace and joy. After catching a late flight to Boston and sleeping in the airport before heading to Bermuda early the next morning, Campos had just under two hours to prepare for his round.
Though that generally provides ample time for a golfer before a tournament, Campos was taken over by thoughts of his new daughter. The following four days at the tournament were a whirlwind; he made the cut and shot a remarkable 62 to tie for the lead by the third round. On the final day, he managed to remain composed and sealed his win with a 68, finishing three strokes ahead. As he stood on the 18th green, a reporter approached him, and the emotions overwhelmed him—tears flowed as he expressed disbelief at his accomplishment, saying, “I just can’t believe this is happening to me.”
His victory brought a check for $1,242,000, surpassing his entire earnings over 53 previous attempts on the PGA Tour. Yet, the monetization paled compared to the realization of his lifelong aspiration of becoming a tour winner. The prospect of attending the Masters felt beyond his reach until this moment.
Looking back to when he was just nine years old, witnessing his father play golf for the first time, Campos fondly remembered how engrossed he became in the sport. After dropping his kids off at the driving range, he found himself still hitting balls six hours later, marking the beginning of his infatuation with golf.
Now, after 14 years as a professional and conquering the Bermuda Championship amidst the trials of impending fatherhood and job insecurity, Campos reflects on the turning point in his life. “It’s funny how everybody says, ‘All it takes is one week,’ and while you believe that, you don’t realize how true it is. In this sport, one week can really change your life and your family’s life.”
