For the second time in three weeks, a former University of Illinois golfer won a PGA TOUR event.
Brian Campbell won the 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, beating Aldrich Potigieter in the second hole of a playoff for his first career TOUR win.
Campbell, 31, came into the tournament ranked No. 222 in the Official World Golf Ranking and had only made 10 cuts in 27 PGA TOUR events and never made the top-10 in a TOUR event. Campbell, a California native, took home a paycheck of $1.26 million, more than quadrupling his previous PGA TOUR earnings ($303,115).
With the win, he also earns a two-year exemption for all PGA TOUR events as well as a spot in the Masters, The Players Championship and PGA Championship.
Campbell’s win comes two weeks after Campbell’s former teammate, Thomas Detry, dominated the WM Phoenix Open for his first PGA TOUR win.
“I’m literally freaking out on the inside, I have no idea what’s going on,” Campbell said on Golf Channel after his win. “To be in this position is just so unreal.”
At Illinois, Campbell was the 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year and a two-time Second Team All-American. Campbell was a part of three Illinois teams that won a Big Ten Championship and three teams that made NCAA match play, including the 2013 NCAA runner-up.
Why it matters: Campbell and Detry are the epitome of perseverance. Both have had slow rises in golf, and Campbell has grinned on the Korn Ferry Tour for almost 10 years to finally have his big moment this weekend, which will give him two more years of opportunities at the highest level of golf. The two wins in a month also are another great showcase of what √has built with the Illinois golf program — and a heck of a boost to an already strong recruiting pitch.
“That last hole was a perfect example of what @4Brian_Cam is all about!” Small posted on X. “A tough competitor, full of grit who’s used his unique talent to never give up and to find a way to succeed. Undersized in stature, but huge heart and grit!
“It’s so awesome for @IlliniMGolf to have two @PGATOUR winners in the past three weeks, but when they’re former teammates, it makes it extra cool! Mega-proud of you @4Brian_Cam and @tomdetry! I know how hard each of you have worked, and you both deserve this! #proudcoach“
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