Exterior of Tiger Woods, the one different participant who wears Solar Day Pink whereas on the golf course is PGA Tour rookie Karl Vilips.
Vilips, who hails from Australia, attended and performed at Stanford, simply as Woods did within the Nineties. Having the identical alma mater helped Vilips land this landmark sponsorship deal, as did his connections with TaylorMade. Woods switched to Taylor Made in 2017 after Nike ended its golf membership manufacturing. He additionally emerged victorious at Augusta Nationwide in 2019 utilizing TaylorMade golf equipment.
“I’m very shut with [the TaylorMade] guys,” Vilips defined when requested concerning the origins of his Solar Day Pink deal.
“They’ve been serving to me out for a very long time. Then all through the summer time final yr on the Korn Ferry I began enjoying nicely, and we determined to make it occur, and really lucky to have been chosen by the GOAT himself.”
After graduating from Stanford final yr, Vilips received off to a roaring begin on the Korn Ferry Tour. He received the Utah Championship and completed runner-up on the NV5 Invitational — his three different top-20 finishes in 2024 helped him safe standing on the PGA Tour in 2025.
“It was undoubtedly sudden at first,” Vilips added.
“However once I received the decision, I used to be excited and honored to have the ability to symbolize Tiger and Solar Day Pink. I’m the primary one, in order that’s actually cool.”
Vilips’ first reminiscence of Woods got here in 2008, when he received the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He met him in Australia, a second he’ll bear in mind perpetually. He retains in contact with him, though he does so sporadically.
To this point in 2025, Vilips has made two begins. Final week, he barely made the reduce on the Mexico Open, doing so on the quantity at 3-under. He in the end tied for 72nd after a 4-over 76 on Saturday stored him at bay.
This week, he has performed a lot better. Vilips is 7-under for the championship and shot a 4-under 67 on Friday to e-book a Saturday tee time with ease. He won’t must stress about making the weekend this time round, a lot in contrast to final Friday in Mexico.
“I got here out of the gate sturdy,” Vilips stated of Friday’s second spherical.
“I hit the ball very nice on the entrance, made some putts. Form of stumbled throughout the end line just a little bit however nonetheless felt like I used to be swinging it good in the direction of the top of the spherical. You’re going to search out water ultimately out right here. A bit bitter to complete the spherical like that, however in a great place for the weekend.”
Vilips discovered the water left of the sixth fairway, his fifteenth gap of the day, which led to a double-bogey. His tee shot on the par-4 ninth landed within the penalty space once more, however at the least he salvaged a bogey. He was at 10-under at one level, however these pulled tee pictures price him three strokes. A minimum of he’ll make the weekend and now has an opportunity to submit the most effective end of his PGA Tour profession, all whereas sporting Solar Day Pink.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.
