Australia’s latest PGA Tour participant Karl Vilips has at all times adopted within the footsteps of Tiger Woods and for his subsequent mimicking act he desires to mild up one of many world’s finest programs just like the 15-time main winner as soon as did.
Watch each spherical of the PGA Tour LIVE & Unique on Fox Sports activities, out there on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for simply $1. Restricted time supply.
The 23-year-old performed school golf at Stanford College, like Woods, and after graduating in Might, he earned a PGA Tour card 5 months later.
It has been a whirlwind begin to life as knowledgeable for Vilips, who gained on the Korn Ferry Tour in simply his second begin within the skilled ranks and claimed the Rookie of the Yr award like world primary Scottie Scheffler as soon as did.
He strung collectively a collection of fine performances on the secondary US tour to make sure that come the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in October – the place he adorned Woods’ new ‘Solar Day Pink’ vary of clothes – he was within the high 30 who advance to the PGA Tour.
Now, he returns to Melbourne – town of his start – to play within the Australian Open for the primary time since he missed the minimize as a youngster in Sydney seven years in the past.
This time round, he is among the headline acts at Kingston Heath – which is able to host the Presidents Cup in 2028 – and Victoria golf golf equipment quite than a child on the lookout for a style of the large time, and he’s relishing the prospect to strut his stuff the place legends like Woods, Gary Participant, Karrie Webb, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch and Adam Scott have lifted trophies.
“It’s particular. I get to indicate everybody that I’ve gotten quite a bit higher because the final time I used to be right here,” Vilips stated.
“I’m actually excited to indicate my recreation in entrance of the crowds right here. Such as you’re saying, they’re fairly rowdy and I need to get them to their max stage there.
“Yeah, there’s undoubtedly a bit little bit of expectation, however that’s what comes with it. So I’m simply trying ahead to embracing that and simply attempting to do my finest to play good golf.”
Issues have occurred shortly for Vilips this 12 months, however he has not come out of the blue.
He got here to be identified in golf circles greater than a decade in the past as a YouTube sensation.
His dad, Paul, began the channel and adopted the identify ‘Koala Karl’ for his son, posting movies of trick pictures, observe classes and highlights of junior competitions to his channel’s greater than 40,000 subscribers in scenes harking back to Woods’ tv appearances as a baby.
Travelling to America and profitable the US Children World Championship twice helped enhance curiosity in his social media content material, but it surely additionally proved he was a star on the rise.
Jet-setting quickly turn out to be an everyday a part of Vilips’ life.
He traded Melbourne for Perth as a baby, however moved to Florida throughout highschool earlier than 4 years in California as a university pupil.
Like a few of Australia’s NBA gamers, Vilips’ time in America has largely washed away his Australian accent.
However he has personally maintained a robust connection to his residence land.
As an novice, he donned the inexperienced and gold on the World Newbie Group Championship, the Asia-Pacific Newbie Championship and the Youth Olympics the place he and fellow Australian Grace Kim – who’s within the ladies’s subject this week – took residence gold in 2018.
“It’s nice to be again residence. Haven’t been again shortly, however I’m additionally very grateful to Golf Australia for getting me the invite right here,” Vilips stated. “Nothing actually beats the Sandbelt, so excited to get on the market.
“I performed the 2019 Junior Presidents Cup simply throughout the highway at Royal (Melbourne). That was a very particular expertise representing worldwide aspect there. After which I performed the 2017 Aus Open at The Australian.
“I didn’t play nice and missed the minimize, however these had been the final two aggressive tournaments that I performed right here. I did come again in ‘22 simply to play some catcher golf in Sydney, however earlier than then I believe it was simply the place I used to dwell down right here on the Sandbelt.”
Vilips is hopeful of creating his debut as a PGA Tour member in Hawaii in January, however he’s locked in to play The American Specific in California weeks later.
As he has been his complete golf journey, Vilips will not be in need of confidence forward of taking up lots of the finest gamers on this planet.
He had a style of that have eventually 12 months’s US Open – the place he missed the minimize – after making it by means of qualifying to earn a significant debut.
Fronting up in opposition to the game’s elite week-in, week-out is a special proposition, nonetheless.
Not that he’s involved.
“I believe I simply preserve doing what I’m doing, must be high-quality,” he stated.
“I’m simply seeking to play actually good golf on the market and no matter occurs, occurs and I believe my recreation’s adequate to proceed retaining my playing cards and notch up a pair wins if potential and every part clicks for per week, however simply received to get that to 125 I believe for retaining your card. So seeking to set the asides past that.
“My coach, Colin Swatton, psychological coach Rick Sessinghaus they’ve been big in getting me prepared for the Tour.
“I believe it simply comes with loads of deliberate preparation, psychological processes, all of the issues to get me able to play the 72nd gap on a Sunday. I believe I’ve been working laborious at it, studying by means of expertise.
“All that I believe goes to get me prepared for the PGA Tour.”