The Puerto Rican golfer classified for the Olympic Games, Rafa Campos, revealed that in recent weeks he experienced a lot of pressure to qualify for Tokyo 2020 to the point where his game lost the north.
Campos ranked 55th among the 60 players who struck out their ticket to the Olympics by ranking. The ranking was administered by the International Golf Federation based on the performances of the golfers in the different professional tours such as the Professional Golf Association (PGA).
Two weeks ago it was ranked 60. And this week it was 59.
For a month, Campos was playing on the ‘frontier’ of qualifying to Tokyo and with his mind also set on playing well to keep his PGA card, which is his personal job in the long run.
“I had too much pressure. After the two good tournaments I had (Puerto Rico Open and Punta Cana), it’s amazing how my focus changed and I started doing things that I don’t do. I changed my routine. I had so many and so many gains from representing Puerto Rico and playing in the Olympics that golf literally went south. Every time I played and did not make the cut, the first thing I did was look for the list of rankings to see how much I dropped, “he revealed.
But on Monday … what a relief! When they called me they said: ‘Rafa already. You’re in. ‘ It was a tremendous relief because from here to the Olympics the mentality in golf will be very different, “he added.
Campos would not have classified by ranking if the Olympics had been held in 2020. Two tournaments he played this year, the Puerto Rico Open and the Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, put him in position to qualify. Campos finished third in the Open and second in Punta Cana.
The Guaynabeño is the first Puerto Rican golfer to qualify for the Olympic Games. Golf returned to the Olympics in the last edition of Rio 2016 after a long absence. He anticipates the Puerto Rican golfer Marife Torres It will also qualify for the Tokyo Games next Monday, when the International Golf Federation announces the 60 qualifiers. Torres is currently ranked 45 in the ranking.
The emotional Campos said he can’t wait to join the Puerto Rico delegation for Tokyo 2020. Campos is the 34th Puerto Rican athlete to qualify for the Games. The delegation parades on July 23, when the Summer Fair will be inaugurated.
Thinking that I am one of them gives me a lot of satisfaction “
–Rafa Campos, Puerto Rican golfer
The meeting is one that he has dreamed of since he was young, when the Olympics were not in the Olympic arena, but there were – and continue – tournaments with teams representing nations, such as events in the Caribbean and World Cups.
“Is incredible. I do not know how to explain it. It will be so brutal to see the best athletes in Puerto Rico in one place. Thinking that I am one of them gives me great satisfaction that all the work I have put into it over the years and the desires and desires have borne fruit at the top ”, he said.
“Being close to them at the Olympic Village is going to be extremely interesting. I am crazy to meet so many of them. I want to basically talk to all of them, take advantage of this opportunity. It will be alright cool, very cool, “he added.
Olympic Games men’s golf begins July 29. World-class golfers such as the Irishman will also participate Rory McIlroy, the American Justin thomas and spanish John Rahm, who last week won the US Open. Viktor Hovland, past champion of the Puerto Rico Open, will also see action.
There will be representation from 36 countries in the Olympic golf tournament.
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