Rafa Campos, a 36-year-old golfer from Puerto Rico, had an emotional moment upon receiving an invitation from Drew Donovan, the tournament director of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, to participate in the prestigious event.

Although Campos has struggled with his game over the past year and a half, he was moved to tears by the news that, despite missing out on the Puerto Rico Open, he secured a spot in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

After a disappointing start to the current season, including a 57th place finish at the Sentry and four consecutive missed cuts, Campos sees the API invitation as a crucial opportunity to regain his confidence and improve his performance.

With the PGA Tour limiting fully exempt members to 100 by the end of the season, Campos understands the importance of competing in high-stakes tournaments like Bay Hill to secure his place on the tour.

Last season was particularly challenging for Campos, as he finished with only one event before the Mexico Open and missed 13 of 14 cuts, until he surprisingly won the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Describing the past year and a half as the worst of his career in terms of consistency, Campos experienced a turning point at the Farmers Insurance Open when his caddie encouraged him to make significant changes to his game.

To improve his performance, Campos started working with instructor Boyd Summerhays, focusing on adjustments to his grip and backswing, which he believes will lead to better results, even though it has temporarily reduced his distance by 10-12 yards.

Despite the challenges, Campos remains optimistic about the adjustments he is making, hoping they will lead to more consistent performances and opportunities on the PGA Tour moving forward.

Previously, Campos tied for 38th at the Mexico Open, where he recorded two holes-in-one, but he noted that the course conditions were tough due to length and his own lack of distance off the tee.