PUERTA VALLARTA - Brian Campbell shook off an errant tee shot -- saved by a lucky break -- to birdie the second playoff hole, capturing his first US PGA Tour title at the Mexico Open with a gutsy win over South African Aldrich Potgieter on Sunday.
Campbell, a 31-year-old American who is back on the PGA Tour after his first spell there in 2017 ended in a return to the developmental Korn Ferry Tour, rattled in a three and a half foot birdie putt at the second hole of sudden death - the par-five 18th -- to seal the win after Potgieter's six-foot birdie attempt slid past the hole.
Both players had scrambled for pars when the playoff opened at 18 -- shortly after both got up and down for birdie there to finish 72 holes tied on 20-under 264 at the VidantaWorld resort near Puerta Vallarta.
American Isaiah Salinda just missed out on the playoff, carding a 65 for solo third on 265.
"Grit, that's the only word I can think of right now," said Campbell, who had four birdies and three bogeys in his final-round 70. "I'm literally freaking out on the inside. I have no idea what's going on right now.
Campbell had piled up 187 starts on the PGA and Korn Ferry tours without a win, and a first visit to the winner's circle wasn't looking likely when his tee shot at the second playoff hole veered toward the out-of-bounds woods.
But it hit a tree and ricocheted back into play, bouncing off a cart path into the right rough.
"Oh my gosh, that bounce? But we got ourselves back in position and gave ourselves a chance and it paid off," said Campbell, who landed his second shot in the fairway 68 yards out from the pin and spun a terrific third shot to within four feet.
Potgieter had the advantage with a tee shot in the fairway, but his second shot landed in one of the small bunkers in front of the green and his shot out left him a tough putt coming back.
It was the end of a hard day for the 20-year-old Pretoria-born prodigy, playing in only his 10th PGA Tour event.
He started the day with a one-shot lead -- down from four strokes after his sensational second-round 61 -- and had three birdies and three bogeys in his even par 71.