NBC Sports’ Notah Begay III said “that was the bounce of a career,” so it was only fitting Brian Campbell paid his respects.
The 31-year-old earned his first PGA Tour victory on Sunday at the 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld thanks to a fortuitous bounce on the second playoff hole. Campbell’s tee shot sailed toward the out of bounds lining the right side of the par-5 18th fairway at Vidanta Vallarta, only for his ball to smack a tree, ricochet off the cart path and land in the rough.
From there, Campbell laid up to within 100 yards, stuck a wedge inside 4 feet and buried the birdie putt to beat Aldrich Potgieter for a life-changing victory.
After the pomp and circumstance that comes with winning a PGA Tour event, Campbell returned with his caddie, girlfriend and others to the tree to give thanks.
Over the span of a professional’s career, they’re bound to get hundreds of bounces not go their way during the course of a tournament. On Sunday, Campbell got a fortunate one, and he capitalized.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Brian Campbell gives toast to tree that helped him win Mexico Open
