Sometimes making your dreams come true requires a little luck. At least, that’s what Mateo Pulcini discovered on Sunday in Latin American Amateur Championship.
With a spot in the Masters, the US Open and the Open Championship on the line, the 25-year-old Argentine stepped up to the first playoff hole and hit his iron to the right. With the ball buried, Pulcini tried to muscle his second shot near the green. But it came up low and looked like it was going to hit a tree, dooming his chances. However, the ball somehow missed all the big branches and made it, leaving Pulcini with a 40-yard shot.
Pulcini’s next putt checked to 20 feet and he holed out on the par to send the playoff against Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz to the second hole.
On that second playoff hole, Paz drove his ball into the left fairway and caught a lie that sailed right onto the green. Paz went 40 feet from the hole and missed the first shot, leaving the door open for Pulcin to become the oldest winner in the history of the Latin American Amateur Championship. Pulcin’s third shot came just short of the green. He pulled the putter and rolled the third to within three feet. He hit putts to punch his ticket to Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale.
Highlights from the final round of 2026 LAAC champion Mateo Pulcini. 🇦🇷
Highlights from the final round of 2026 LAAC champion Mateo Pulcini. pic.twitter.com/lGFrD5zkCa
– Latin American Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
“It was a lot of nerves coming in,” Pulcini said. “As always, I tried to have fun, to laugh. Being in the position I dreamed of at the beginning of the week, why not take advantage and enjoy myself?”
Pulcini, who played his collegiate golf at D-II Oklahoma Christian before transferring to Arkansas, started Sunday’s final round at Lima Golf Club two shots behind 54-hole leader Segundo Oliva Pinto. But Oliva Pinto’s shooting was cold on Sunday as he shot a final-round three-over 73 to finish tied for fifth.
Pulcini went one under on Sunday and then bogeyed No. 12 to get to five under. He made it to 13 but got a birdie putt on 14.
Three holes later on No. 17, Pulcini made an easy putt to save the championship when he drained a 40-foot putt just moments after Paz made a 25-footer for birdie to tie him for the lead at five under.
Virgilio Paz Valdes does not give up!
With his birdie on the 17th hole, he tied the lead on the way to the final hole.Virgilio Paz Valdes does not give up!
With this birdie on the 17th, he is tied for the lead with one hole left to play. pic.twitter.com/HF4j9AqMPP– Latin American Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
Three holes later, Pulcini made another par, this one to win and set up a 2026 filled with greatness that will begin at the Masters.
“We dream of playing and winning this,” Pulcini said. “I have no words at the moment. I am very happy and very grateful for the people around me.”
On Sunday in Peru, Mateo Pulcini achieved a dream after 74 holes – with the help of a lucky break.
