Golf legend Tiger Woods makes shock Sun Day Red announcement

The first player to wear Tiger Woods Sun Day Red on the PGA Tour not named Tiger has been confirmed.

Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods

The first golfer not named Tiger Woods to wear Sun Day Red on the PGA Tour has been confirmed. 

Last week Woods' clothing line - which he launched after leaving Nike - teased an announcement with a mysterious social media post. 

Said post featured today's date next to a player's silhouette and the words: "Next on the tee."

It led to speculation that Woods' good buddy Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark or even Justin Rose would be the first Sun Day Red brand ambassador.

Turns out it wasn't Thomas, Clark or Rose. 

Sun Day Red have now made it official that Karl Vilips will be rocking their apparel. 

Vilips is making his first start of 2025 on the PGA Tour at this week's Mexico Open.

He earned his card for the 2024-2025 season after finishing inside the top 30 on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour.  

Who is Karl Vilips?

It's no surprise that Woods and TaylorMade have targeted Vilips. 

Vilips, a 23-year-old Australian pro, graduated from Stanford last May after four years at the university. 

Woods went to Stanford from 1994 to 1996 before leaving to turn professional.

During his time at Stanford, Woods dominated college golf. 

He won 11 NCCA-sanctioned events, including the NCCA Men's Individual Championship in 1996. 

Woods also won the U.S. Junior Amateur three times in a row, as well as winning the Haskins and Jack Nicklaus awards in 1996. 

Other Stanford graduates include the likes of Michael Thorbjornsen and Maverick McNealy.  

Scoring averages in Stanford history

1. Maverick McNealy

70.13

2. Patrick Rodgers

70.31

3. Michael Thorbjornsen

70.40

4. Tiger Woods

70.96

5. Karl Vilips

71

Karl Vilips facts

Karl Vilips was born on 16 August 2001 in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

He moved to Perth when he was small and is an Australian citizen. 

Karl's father, Paul, has been extremely influential in his son's career. 

Paul bought Karl his first set of plastic golf clubs when he was one. 

Karl has won the U.S. Kids World Championships twice and achieved a scratch handicap by the age of 12. 

He reportedly was playing off +5.3 aged 18. 

Karl won gold at the 2018 youth Olympics and reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship.

He turned professional in 2024 and claimed his first victory at the Korn Ferry Tour's Utah Championship last August. 

His nickname is 'Koala Karl' and he currently lives in Jacksonville, Florida.  

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