Mateo Pulcini earns a Masters spot by winning the Latin American Amateur Championship
Sometimes achieving your dreams requires luck. At least, that’s what Mateo Pulcini found out on Sunday at the Latin American Amateur Championship.
With a spot at the Masters, US Open and Open Championship on the line, the 25-year-old Argentine stepped up to the first playoff hole and hit his iron hard to the right. With his ball buried, Pulcini tried to muscle his second shot closer to the green. But it came out low and looked like it was going to hit a tree, throwing away his chances. However, the ball somehow missed all the big branches and made it through, leaving Pulcini with a 40-yard chip shot.
Pulcini’s next shot reached 20 feet, and he made a par putt to send his play-off against Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz on the second hole.
On that second playoff hole, Paz chipped his shot into the difficult left fairway and caught a flyer lie that went to the right side of the green. Paz missed the par putt 40 feet past the hole, leaving the door open for Pulcini to become the oldest winner in the history of the Latin American Amateur Championship. Pulcini’s third shot came close to the green. He pulled the putter and rolled his feet three to three. He hit a par putt to punch his ticket to Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale.
The best moments of the final round of the LAAC 2026 champion, Mateo Pulcini. 🇦🇷
Highlights of the final round of LAAC 2026 champion, Mateo Pulcini. pic.twitter.com/lGFrD5zkCa
– Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
“There were a lot of emotions going in,” Pulcini said. As always, I tried to have fun, to laugh. Since I’m in the position I dreamed of at the beginning of the week, why not take advantage and enjoy it?
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 putter cooled off on Sunday as he shot a final-round 3-over 73 to finish fifth.
Pulcini went one under on Sunday and drove No. 12 to get to 5 under. He was 13 years old but he was hit by a bird when he was 14 years old.
Three holes later on No. 17, Pulcini made the putt to save the championship when he drained a 40-foot par putt just after Paz made a 25-foot birdie putt to tie him for the lead at five under.
¡Virgilio Paz Valdes is gone!
Con su birdie al hoyo 17, empata la punta camino al hoyo final.Virgilio Paz Valdes never stops!
With this birdie on the 17th, he is tied for the top with one hole to play. pic.twitter.com/HF4j9AqMPP– Latin America Amateur Championship (@LAAC_Golf) January 18, 2026
Three holes later, Pulcini made another par, this one to win and set up a full 2026 start at the Masters.
“We dream of playing and winning this,” said Pulcini. “I have no words right now. I am very happy and I am very grateful to the people around me.”
On Sunday in Peru, Mateo Pulcini fulfilled a dream after 74 holes – with the help of a lucky break.
