Australian Karl Vilips is one spherical away from claiming a maiden PGA Tour victory as he leads the $US4 million Puerto Rico Open by one shot, whereas Jason Day is in rivalry on the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
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In simply his third begin in his debut season on the PGA Tour, Vilips has fired rounds of 65, 67 and 66 to sit down -18, one shot away from American Joseph Bramlett and South African newbie Kieron van Wyk.
The 23-year-old has been making waves within the males’s skilled golf panorama as final month he was chosen by Tiger Woods to be an envoy for his Solar Day Purple clothes label.
Vilips poised to strike in Puerto Rico | 04:04
Vilips attended the identical faculty because the 15-time main champion, Stanford College in California, and his profession has moved in quick ahead since graduating and turning skilled final 12 months.
He gained simply his fourth occasion as an expert, on the Korn Ferry Tour, after ending runner-up the week prior and people outcomes helped him progress from the secondary US Tour to the PGA Tour regardless of solely enjoying ten tournaments for the season.
“I don’t really feel that shocked,” Vilips mentioned when he requested if was shocked by his scorching begin to his skilled profession.
“I really feel like my sport’s gotten so much higher over time. I believe enjoying a lot out of school and on the Korn Ferry after which simply a number of aggressive golf, it simply has sharpened me up so much. I’ve been actually true to the method and seeing it repay to this point in the mean time is good.”
It has been an astronomical rise for the Melbourne born, West Australian who first attracted the eye of the golf world as ‘Koala Karl’ on YouTube.
Vilips’ father, Paul, posted movies of apply periods in addition to clips from junior tournaments and greater than 40,000 subscribers jumped on board to comply with the journey which has taken him to the PGA Tour.
Sadly, his maiden marketing campaign began a bit later than anticipated attributable to a bulging disc in his again, which was realised after experiencing ache throughout a return dwelling to play within the Australian Open, however Vilips is now making up for misplaced time.
“It was robust. There have been programs that I used to be wanting ahead to enjoying to begin the season,” he mentioned.
Day breaks down his sensible spherical | 03:15
“It was fairly robust information to listen to again final 12 months, particularly whenever you’re excited to get your card and you’ll’t play the primary few occasions. However handled it, it’s what it’s, and simply tried to prepare for once I might play.”
Vilips has additionally handled abdomen points in Puerto Rico this week as he tries to turn out to be the primary Australian since Cam Davis on the Rocket Mortgage Basic final 12 months to triumph on the PGA Tour.
“Feeling fairly good with the place I’m in. I want my abdomen felt a bit bit higher, however it’s what it’s. You’ve acquired yet one more day, simply battle via it,” he mentioned.
“I’ve misplaced a number of weight this week. I don’t know what’s occurring, similar to it feels prefer it’s shrinking on me.”
In the meantime, in the future after taking pictures the bottom spherical at Bay Hill since 2021, Jason Day sits three photographs off the lead heading into the ultimate spherical.
Day didn’t attain the heights of his second spherical 64 on Saturday however fought again impressively to complete the spherical in fourth behind chief Collin Morikawa, second-placed Russell Henley and third-placed Corey Conners.
The Australian bogeyed seven, eight and 9 to achieve the flip one-over for the day, however clawed again the momentum late in his spherical with a hat-trick of birdies at 16, 17 and 18 to achieve three-under for the spherical and -7 total.
Taking part in the closing holes in such sensible style bodes properly for his bid for a 14th PGA Tour title and his first because the AT&T Byron Nelson.
If Day, can produce some Sunday afternoon heroics, it might be the second time he has triumphed at ‘Arnie’s place’ after profitable the identical occasion in 2016.
“9 years is a very long time,” Day mentioned post-round.
“I really feel actually good with my putter proper now. Initially of the 12 months, I really hit it fairly good and I putted fairly poorly.
“I acquired a bit too technical there for a second and now I’m getting again to only enjoying golf.”
Countrymen Adam Scott shot his finest spherical of the match to this point with a two-under par 70 taking him to +1 total in a tie for twenty seventh.