Brian Campbell, of the United States, holds the championship trophy after the final round of the Mexico Open golf tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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The Associated Press
VALLARTA, Mexico — Brian Campbell cashed in on a huge break Sunday when his tee shot in a playoff bounced out of the trees and back into play, leading to a birdie on the second extra hole to win the Mexico Open over Aldrich Potgieter.
Campbell, who closed with a 1-under 70 at Vidanta Vallarta, won for the first time since he turned pro a decade ago and the timing could not have been better.
The victory sends him to the Masters, The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, along with five of the $20 million signature events left on the PGA Tour schedule.
“To be in this position is just so unreal,” the 31-year-old Campbell said after calmly holing a birdie putt just inside 4 feet on the 18th green for the win. “I can’t believe it, really.”
Good golf wasn’t enough. Campbell needed the break of a lifetime.
Campbell and Potgieter, who shot 71, each made birdie on the 18th in regulation and began the playoff with a par. Returning to the par-5 closing hole for the third time — a big advantage for the 20-year-old South African with his power — Campbell hit low, hard fade toward the out-of-bounds stakes.
But it crashed into the trees and popped back out into the rough.
Elsewhere:
n Angel Yin won for the second time on the LPGA Tour, making a shot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 7-under 65 that was just enough to hold off hard-charging Akie Iwai of Japan in the Honda LPGA Thailand.
n Jacques Kruyswijk of South Africa closed with a 4-under 67 and held on to win the Kenya Open for his first European tour title.
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