Outdoors 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 Nineteen 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 obtained off to a roaring begin on the Korn Ferry Tour. He gained 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 obtained 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 gained the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He met him in Australia, a second he’ll keep in mind ceaselessly. He retains in contact with him, though he does so sporadically.
To date in 2025, Vilips has made two begins. Final week, he barely made the minimize on the Mexico Open, doing so on the quantity at 3-under. He finally tied for 72nd after a 4-over 76 on Saturday saved him at bay.
This week, he has performed significantly 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 should stress about making the weekend this time round, a lot not like 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 a bit of bit however nonetheless felt like I used to be swinging it good in direction of the tip 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 photographs price him three strokes. At the very least he’ll make the weekend and now has an opportunity to submit the most effective end of his PGA Tour profession, all whereas carrying Solar Day Pink.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.