“Not many people know about one’s life”: Rafa Campos tells how and when he decided to play golf | Others

Anyone who sees Rafael “Rafa” Campos playing on the green, or at least knows his career, might think that golf was always his thing.

His 14 appearances at the Puerto Rico Open, his triumph in 2019 at the Great Abaco Classic in the Bahamas or even his participation in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 could help to deduce it.

But there is nothing further from the truth.

Campos –who is currently competing in the fifteenth edition of the Puerto Rico Open, in Río Grande– was not always focused on golf and it was not until he had to make a decision about his university future, that he finally left behind another couple of sports that interested.

“I started with volleyball, basketball, baseball and even swimming. I played everything. I was very good at everything. It’s something that I’ve always loved,” Campos told THE SPOKESMAN as part of the launch of a new campaign with Texaco.

“I ended up in golf because I just excelled a little more,” the veteran golfer admitted with a laugh. “And I’m not complaining,” he clarified.

Campos explained that the decision to dedicate himself to golf – which had already taken him to travel the world representing Puerto Rico at the junior level – came just at the beginning of his university stage.

“I kept playing all the sports until my senior year in high school, until I was 17. I played them all. But around the age of 13 or 14 I had realized that I was better at golf and had the opportunity to travel the world representing Puerto Rico as a junior. I was like that until I was 17 years old, before changing to amateur status, where I could go to the university to play,” Campos said.

The now 34-year-old golfer played with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) at the collegiate level, between 2006 and 2008.

“It wasn’t that I decided. What I didn’t know was if I was going to go to university for golf or for studies. I didn’t know until late, but I realized that I could get a scholarship in the United States for golf, thanks to the performances that he had had,” said the man from Guaynabo.

Part of this story and his sacrifices as a golfer are part of the Legacy of Stars campaign.

“Not many people know about your life and you want to keep it private, but I think I’ve reached the point in my career where I want to inspire young people to understand that with all the sacrifices and discipline, goals can be achieved. “Campos said in reference to the campaign.