Karl Vilips could be one of the greats of Australian golf according to the coach who took Jason Day to world No.1
Karl Vilips put his child prodigy days behind him with a PGA Tour win in his rookie season and his coach says the young Australia is certainly something special and could be 'one of the greats'.
Col Swatton, who steered Jason Day to world No.1, has been a key part of Vilips' team since his college days at Stanford and declared the 23-year-old Australian was 'definitely ahead of the curve' having already netted two professional wins, including a PGA tour breakthrough, in just 12 months since turning pro.
Vilips is one of seven Australians teeing it up at this week's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina and in a final few sessions in Florida last week, Swatton reaffirmed his young charge had a 'superpower' that sets him apart from other young players.
'I think it's his maturity and his ability to process information but also be honest in what was happening with his game,' Swatton said.
'I reminded him of this before he came to Quail Hollow. I said his ability to be honest enough and brutal enough in what happens from a week-to-week perspective on tour ... that allows him to grow. I told him that was one of his superpowers.
'That questioning (of his game) allows him to be in a position where only a few are at his age.'
A meeting at the start of the year where Vilips spoke about how he would play in one of the $30m Signature events at RBC Heritage, an event he wasn't qualified for and would likely need a win beforehand to get into, particularly struck Swatton.
Vilips then went and won his first PGA Tour event in Puerto Rico that not only got him into the RBC but into the majors and secured paying rights in the US until the end of 2027.
'I thought to myself, he's a kid that saw himself somewhere months before it happened, and it's the law of attraction, what you will focus on will become your belief and your future,' Swatton said.
'I told him he will have a better career on the PGA Tour than he will at Stanford. From here on in it's a matter of trying to continually improve … but we also have to not be overzealous in our expectations.'
Expectations are, however, growing for Vilips, who Swatton said was far more progressed than Day at the same age.
'He hasn't played that many professional events, but he's won two times in the past six months,' he said.
'He's definitely on a trajectory and a curve. I said to him it even took Jason Day three years to figure out how to win on the PGA Tour, he (Vilips) already has within his first four events.
'He is definitely ahead of the curve and he could be really, really special given the right environment, the right people around him, the right information, he could be one of Australia's great golfers.'
US PGA Championship
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina
2024 champion: Xander Schauffele
Past Aussie winners: Jim Ferrier (1947), David Graham (1979), Wayne Grady (1990), Steve Elkington (1995), Jason Day (2015)
TV times: Live 3am-9am Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
A ustralians in the field
Cameron Davis
World ranking: 68
Previous appearances: 4 (2021-2024)
Best finish: T4 (2023)
Jason Day
World ranking: 32
Previous appearances: 15 (2010-2024)
Best finish: 1st (2015)
Min Woo Lee
World ranking: 27
Previous appearances: 3 (2022-2024)
Best finish: T18 (2023)
Adam Scott
World ranking: 40
Previous appearances: 24 (2001-2024)
Best finish: 3rd (2018)
Cameron Smith
World ranking: 148
Previous appearances: 9 (2015, 2017-2024)
Best finish: T9 (2023)
Elvis Smylie
World ranking: 206
Previous appearances: Nil
Karl Vilips
World ranking: 117
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Queensland Maroons Origin II squad: Daly Cherry-Evans dropped for Tom Dearden
Ricky Stuart has suggested Queensland has broken its pick-and-stick culture by dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans for State of Origin II to play Tom Dearden at number seven. Maroons coach Billy Slater on Monday confirmed his 20-man squad for the must-win clash, with Cherry-Evans missing from the side. Second-rower Beau Fermor has also been dropped, with Kurt Capewell returning to the side and Kurt Mann the new number 14, with Dearden at halfback. Ezra Mam has also been named as a reserve as part of an extended squad, just three NRL games after his comeback from a drug-driving ban. The Brisbane five-eighth will undergo scans on Monday morning in order to be cleared to join camp, after suffering a knock to his knee on Saturday night. Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh and Melbourne centre Jack Howarth are expected to be the other reserves, after Queensland was beaten 18-6 in the series opener. But it is the dropping of Cherry-Evans that has created shockwaves, with the halfback the first Maroons captain dropped mid-series in almost 30 years. Speaking before the 36-year-old's non-selection was confirmed on Sunday, former Blues halfback and coach Stuart had a subtle dig at those north of the border. "Queensland have got this culture of they pick and stick," the current Canberra coach said. "They've got this culture that they talk about in regards to, you know, hanging tough in tough times. "So I think that Cherry-Evans will keep his position unless they're going to break their culture. "[Otherwise] they're going to break their attitude in regards to what they've been promoting for so many years." The Maroons have long preached about a pick-and-stick culture, which was evident through their dynasty between 2006 and 2017. Stuart coached NSW in two of those seasons, falling to series losses in 2011 and 2012. Blues players were also surprised when told of Cherry-Evans's omission on Sunday afternoon. "It's their call," second-rower Liam Martin said. "Obviously they were disappointed with the first game. That's Billy's call, it's what they think is right for the team. But we've just got to respond to that now." Dearden has started in the halves four times previously for Queensland, after first partnering Cherry-Evans in the Maroons' 2022 series-decider success. The 24-year-old played five-eighth for Australia in last year's Pacific Cup win, and has had an impressive start to 2025 with North Queensland. Dearden has scored four tries for the Cowboys, set up 11 and created 16 line breaks, bettering Cherry-Evans's numbers at Manly in all categories. QUEENSLAND SQUAD FOR STATE OF ORIGIN II: Kalyn Ponga, Xavier Coates, Robert Toia, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant, Moeaki Fotuaika, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, Pat Carrigan, Kurt Mann, Lindsay Collins, Kurt Capewell, Trent Loiero, Ezra Mam, Jack Howarth, Corey Horsburgh. AAP
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
'One tough horse': Rothfire 'back in the game' for Stradbroke Handicap
There could be another remarkable twist to the Rothfire story with Rob Heathcote declaring his wonder horse is 'back in the game' in a race against time to line up in Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Hopes had been low that the 'Thriller from Chinchilla' would recover from a foot injury in time to take his place in Queensland's most prestigious race. However, after working the Group 1 winner on Monday morning, Heathcote feels the courageous seven-year-old sprinter is now a decent chance of lining up in Saturday's $3m Stradbroke. 'He will of course have to pass the scrutiny of vets, but from what we saw this morning, he will,' Heathcote said. 'Rothfire was excellent this morning. 'He's done a lot of swimming and he still has to come through his Tuesday morning gallop well, but from what we saw this morning, nothing is beyond this warrior horse. 'He is one tough horse.' The foot injury to Rothfire, which flared after he turned back the clock for an amazing runner-up finish behind Sunshine In Paris in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, was only ever minor. But Heathcote said last week that although the foot infection had broken, he had felt Rothfire remained only a 'slim' chance of lining up in his third Stradbroke. However there is now a growing sense of optimism. It is still far from ideal that Rothfire would be racing in a Stradbroke after missing a run in the Kingsford Smith Cup, but Heathcote said it wasn't a major issue. 'The Doomben 10,000 run was worth a week of fitness work and the swimming he has been doing has kept him up to the mark,' he said. 'His courage will fill in the cracks.' Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 ðŸ'° @mcacajamez @ANeashamRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 Heathcote will not make a decision as to whether he accepts with Rothfire in the Stradbroke until after a Tuesday morning track work session. Rothfire's odds in the Stradbroke have blown out since he has been under an injury cloud and he is currently a $34 chance. Rothfire became a Group 1 champion in 2020 when he won the JJ Atkins in his two-year-old season. He has won close to $3.5m in prizemoney, despite suffering several major injury setbacks including a sesamoid fracture several years ago which had threatened to end his career.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
DCE expected to be dropped for Origin II
NRL: Queensland captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is reportedly set to be dropped by the Maroons for State of Origin Game 2.
