Rafael Campos, the only member of the PGA Tour from Puerto Rico, received an emotional call from Drew Donovan, the tournament director for the Arnold Palmer Invitational (API), offering him a sponsor exemption to participate in the prestigious event.

This opportunity is significant for Campos, marking only his second appearance in a PGA Tour Signature Event, which does not have a 36-hole cut, ensuring he will earn FedEx Cup points and a share of the $20 million prize money.

Sharing the news of his API invitation with his wife led to an emotional moment, underscoring the personal significance of this opportunity for him and his family.

Campos expressed that the invitation was particularly meaningful for Puerto Ricans, as it serves as motivation for younger generations to pursue golf more seriously.

In his quest to compete in more PGA Tour events, Campos has written approximately 150 letters to tournament directors seeking sponsor exemptions, making the acceptance from the API a rare success.

Despite winning the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in November 2024, Campos has faced challenges, missing nine cuts in his last 11 starts on the PGA Tour prior to this announcement.

Following a poor performance at the Farmers Insurance Open, Campos' caddie encouraged him to seek changes in his game, leading him to lessons from Boyd Summerhays, a top golf instructor.

Notably, Campos will not compete in the 2025 Puerto Rico Open, a tournament he has participated in since its inception in 2008.