Karl Vilips had plenty to celebrate on Sunday, securing his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open and cashing a winner’s check worth nearly three-quarters of a million dollars.

But one unexpected moment may have topped it all getting a message from Tiger Woods himself.

The PGA Tour rookie was stunned to receive both a text and a voicemail from the 15-time major champion following his breakthrough win.

In fact, the realization that Woods had reached out seemed even harder to grasp than his own victory, which came in just his fourth career start.

“I got on my phone after the round and I was scrolling through, like who is texting me?” Vilips told reporters. “And I think I got one from a random number that called me as well. And then there was a voicemail saying, ‘It’s Tiger,’ and I couldn’t like process it in the moment.”

It’s easy to understand why. Winning on the PGA Tour is a whirlwind experience, and getting a personal message from one of the sport’s greatest legends only added to the surreal nature of the moment.

Woods had good reason to reach out so quickly Vilips is the first brand ambassador for Tiger’s new Sun Day Red apparel line, aside from Woods himself.

That’s an immediate return on investment. And while Vilips wasn’t sporting the signature red, he shares another connection with Tiger: both played college golf at Stanford.

“I was just trying to, I’ll get back to that later,” Vilips said. “But that’s pretty cool.”

“Pretty cool” might be an understatement. And if there’s anyone who would understand not getting an immediate call back after a PGA Tour win, it’s the guy who’s been in that position a record-tying 82 times.

Calum Hill delivered a stunning final-round performance to claim victory at the Joburg Open, making history as the first Scottish player to win the tournament.

The 30-year-old surged from eight shots back with an incredible eight-under-par 62 before prevailing in a dramatic three-man playoff against South African contenders Shaun Norris and Jacques Kruyswijk.

Hill’s brilliant final round featured five birdies and a bogey on each nine, marking the lowest round of the tournament.

Despite starting the day well behind overnight leader Norris, he steadily closed the gap while Norris faltered.

A crucial birdie on the 18th put Hill in the clubhouse lead at 14-under, forcing both South Africans to respond. Kruyswijk matched him with a birdie on the 17th, while Norris barely salvaged his spot in the playoff with a clutch putt at the last to shoot an even-par 70.

All three players made par on the first playoff hole, returning to the 18th tee for another showdown. This time, Norris’ tournament hopes unraveled when he found the water on his approach.

Kruyswijk had a five-foot putt to extend the contest but sent it racing past the hole, handing Hill the victory with a simple tap-in for par.

The win marks Hill’s second DP World Tour title, following his triumph at the Cazoo Classic in August 2021.

It also catapults him up the Race to Dubai rankings, moving him to 11th place. Reflecting on his first-ever playoff experience, Hill admitted the victory took him by surprise.

“It’s awesome. I think that might be my first play-off ever,” he told Sky Sports. “It was a little bit by surprise at the end I thought we’d have to go again but I’m delighted. It was a fantastic day and winning was the cherry on top.”

The final leaderboard saw Hill, Norris, and Kruyswijk finish tied at 14-under, with Dylan Frittelli one shot back at -13.

Danie van Tonder (-12), Scott Vincent (-11), and England’s John Robinson-Thompson (-10) rounded out the top finishers.

With this victory, Hill not only etches his name in Joburg Open history but also reaffirms his place among the rising stars in European golf.

Wyndham Clark kicked off the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an impressive 5-under 67, securing the first-round lead.

Reflecting on his approach at Bay Hill, the American shared, “There’s a lot of water, there’s a lot of trouble out here, and I think I’ve just gotten more comfortable with some of those tee shots. Maybe a little more conservative on some holes, maybe a little more aggressive on others. Then just I think thinking my way around the course better.”

Clark also noted how his course management has evolved over time: “I think in the past sometimes I would get out of position and I would try to make up for it and then I make a big number. I’ve just kind of learned to maybe put it back in play and just maybe make your par or bogey and not try to get those big numbers. So that’s maybe been it. It’s nice to put some good numbers on this golf course and, you know, if anything it’s really good momentum for the rest of the week.”

A three-time PGA Tour winner, Clark’s achievements include his maiden major title at the 2023 U.S. Open, along with victories at the 2023 Truist Championship and the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

His best finish so far in the 2025 season was a T15 at The Sentry in January.

Shane Lowry carded a 3-under 69, highlighted by three birdies, two bogeys, and an eagle at the par-5 16th, placing him in a tie for second, two shots behind Clark.

Sharing T2 are Keegan Bradley, Corey Conners, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Rory McIlroy, the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational champion, began his tournament with a 2-under 70, placing him in T6.

The Northern Irishman, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this season, recently moved to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, overtaking Xander Schauffele, who had held the spot since May 2024.

Defending champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 1-under 71, leaving him four strokes off the lead in T11.

Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele, making his return from a rib injury, struggled with a 5-over 77 his highest score in 13 rounds at Bay Hill placing him in T52.

The American has now recorded a round of 74 or worse in each of his last three starts at this course.

As one of three Signature Events featuring a cut, the field will be trimmed after 36 holes to the low 50 players and ties, along with any additional competitors within 10 strokes of the halfway leader.