'Very Painful': Campos Fights for His PGA Tour Card After 64 in Mexico

Rafael Campos knows exactly what is at stake over the closing weeks of the season, and on Friday at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open he took a step in the right direction. After opening his week near Puerto Vallarta with a 72, the Puerto Rican fired a seven-under 64 in the second round to climb inside the top 30 on the leaderboard, easing some of the pressure in his fight to keep his PGA Tour card. Much of the focus of the FedEx Cup Fall series is the push to finish inside the top 100 in the standings. For those not otherwise exempt, only a top-100 finish will secure a PGA Tour card for 2027, and Campos sits just 166th, meaning strong finishes down the stretch are crucial. His two-year victory exemption from his win in Bermuda in 2024 has expired, leaving him with no safety net. After his round, Campos opened up about the stress of his situation. "Not having a job for next year right now is very painful. Very, very painful," he said, while adding that his Friday round had taken a little weight off his back. With only four tournaments remaining, he understands the scale of the task, believing he needs either a win, a solo second and a couple of good finishes to keep his job. The Mexico Open is the fifth of just eight fall events, so time is running out for Campos and every other player scrambling to secure their future on tour.