Karl Vilips is making his PGA Tour debut this week, and he’s doing it in style, quite literally. The 23-year-old Australian is stepping onto the big stage as the first official brand ambassador for Tiger Woods’s clothing line, Sun Day Red. But while the endorsement itself is a huge moment, it was Woods’s personal Instagram shoutout that truly left Vilips speechless. The 82x Tour winner reposted the SDR’s announcement video on his story. Vilips’s reaction? A simple, seven-word response: “Coolest thing that ever happened to me.” He knows he’ll not be the only one, but to be first, alongside Woods means the world to the young Aussie star.
Vilips’s connection to Woods runs deep. He played college golf at Stanford, the same university Woods dominated in the mid-90s, and he’s idolized the 15-time major champion since he was a kid. Now, he’s representing the very brand Woods created after leaving Nike in early 2024.
“It’s a thrill to be a part of Sun Day Red, especially so early on as we start to grow the brand around the world,” Vilips said. “Tiger Woods was my idol growing up, and knowing that he drives the insights and meticulousness behind Sun Day Red’s apparel and footwear gives us a unique edge that no other company can match. I couldn’t be more proud to be the brand’s first official ambassador.”
That means Vilips will be decked out in Sun Day Red polos, performance pants, shorts, and the Pioneer Cypress footwear line—basically, the full Tiger-approved setup. For him, this is more than just a clothing deal. It’s a full-circle moment. He first met Woods when he was six and was too starstruck to speak.
“I’ve had a handful of interactions with [Woods]; all have been progressively a little bit better,” Vilips shared. “I think the first time I met him, I was 6 and I was just awestruck looking at him. Couldn’t really say anything. Just listened to whatever he had to say. And then met him again a couple of years later. Throughout this whole [Sun Day Red] process, it’s been really cool to hear what he’s had to say in picking me as an ambassador. I hold that to heart. It’s a huge honor.”
Woods himself had nothing but praise for the young Aussie, making it clear why he was chosen. “Karl’s journey has been marked by success at every level he’s played,” Woods said in a press release. “At Sun Day Red, we were drawn towards his relentless work ethic and pioneering spirit that embody what we stand for and look for in our athletes. With his impressive track record and determination, I have no doubt he will make a significant impact quickly on the PGA Tour and is one of the game’s future stars.”
Sun Day Red President Brad Blankinship echoed that sentiment, saying Vilips represents the perfect blend of golf’s traditions and its future, especially with his strong social media presence. Now, Vilips is gearing up for his PGA Tour debut at the Mexico Open—finally back in action after a back injury sidelined him to start the season.
Being the first-ever Sun Day Red athlete is already a huge honor. But for Vilips, getting a personal co-sign from the GOAT himself? That’s next-level.
All you need to know about Karl Vilips
Vilips’s journey to the PGA Tour has been anything but ordinary. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 16, 2001, and raised in Perth, Australia, he was dominating junior golf leaderboards before most kids even knew what a birdie was.
By age 7 and 9, he’d already won the U.S. Kids World Junior Championships, and at 10, he snagged the Callaway Junior World Championship title. Clearly, the kid was special. At just 11 years old, he moved from Australia to the U.S. to chase his golf dreams, attending high school in Florida before earning a scholarship to Stanford University—partly because of his Tiger Woods obsession.
At Stanford, Vilips kept making a name for himself. One of his biggest collegiate highlights? Qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Then, in 2024, he closed out his college career with a solo win at the Pac-12 Championship, proving he was more than ready for the next step.
Turning pro in May 2024, he wasted no time making an impact. Just four starts into his Korn Ferry Tour career, he grabbed his first win at the Utah Championship. He then backed it up with a runner-up finish in Chicago and an insane streak of eight straight rounds in the 60s, proving he had the consistency to hang with the best.
By the end of the season, Vilips had secured 19th place on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, comfortably earning his PGA Tour card by finishing inside the top 30. He also picked up the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Rookie of the Year award—because why not?
Now, as he steps onto the PGA Tour for the first time, he’s doing so with Tiger Woods’s Sun Day Red brand backing him. And if his rise so far is any indication, Karl Vilips is just getting started.
