Villegas breezes to five-shot triumph
Source: Agencies |
March 9, 2010, Tuesday
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CAMILO Villegas shot a final-round 68 to win the Honda Classic by five shots on Sunday in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, over Anthony Kim, giving the Colombian his third US PGA Tour victory.
He finished at 13-under 267, the lowest 72-hole score since the Honda moved to PGA National in 2007, four shots better than Y.E. Yang's winning total a year ago.
And Villegas made it look easy most of the way, too, capping his day with a 20-footer for birdie, then raising both hands skyward.
"It's been a long week, man," said Villegas, who climbed to No. 12 in the world rankings. "But man, it's been a good one. I just loved every second of it."
Midway through his round, it seemed like Villegas could waltz to the win. He led by only two after Vijay Singh made a 45-foot birdie putt at the par-3 fifth, but three straight birdies - starting with a 25-footer on No. 8 - sent Villegas to 15 under and six shots clear of the field.
Good thing he had that cushion, because the putter stopped working after that.
Fortunately for Villegas, no one made much of a run.
He missed short par putts on 11 and 12, three-putted from 50 feet on the par-3 15th for another bogey, but never lost control of the lead and ended up pocketing the US$1.008 million winner's share. The outcome, if any doubt actually existed, was sealed when Villegas' approach from 184 yards on the par-4 16th stopped 15 feet from the pin, setting up a routine par.
Steely eyed for most of the day, Villegas finally acknowledged the crowd as he walked up 18, waving and secure in the knowledge that he was getting his first victory since the Tour Championship in 2008.
"Fair play to him," Justin Rose said. "It was nice to even be in a position to kind of think that way, no doubt."
Kim shot 67 and Rose had by far the best round of the day, a 64 that was three shots better than anyone else in the final round. Paul Casey (67) and Vijay Singh (72) tied for fourth, seven shots back.
"I hung in there," said Kim, who got his best finish since tying for second at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship in 2009. "I still haven't put four good ones together but I'm trying as hard as I can to get there. I'm working on the right things and I'm sure it will come."
Villegas was almost in control from the start. An opening-round 66 had him tied for second, another 66 on Friday earned him a share of the lead, and he left the course Saturday night up by three after shooting 67.
Villegas is now the fourth player who's still under 30 with at least three PGA Tour wins, joining Adam Scott (six) and Dustin Johnson and Sean O'Hair (three each).
Rose is still looking for win No. 1 in the US, though he feels like he's getting closer.
Down by 10 at the start of the day, Rose needed a win to get into the CA Championship at Doral and enhance his chance of qualifying for the US Masters, where he tied for fifth in 2007.
He finished at 13-under 267, the lowest 72-hole score since the Honda moved to PGA National in 2007, four shots better than Y.E. Yang's winning total a year ago.
And Villegas made it look easy most of the way, too, capping his day with a 20-footer for birdie, then raising both hands skyward.
"It's been a long week, man," said Villegas, who climbed to No. 12 in the world rankings. "But man, it's been a good one. I just loved every second of it."
Midway through his round, it seemed like Villegas could waltz to the win. He led by only two after Vijay Singh made a 45-foot birdie putt at the par-3 fifth, but three straight birdies - starting with a 25-footer on No. 8 - sent Villegas to 15 under and six shots clear of the field.
Good thing he had that cushion, because the putter stopped working after that.
Fortunately for Villegas, no one made much of a run.
He missed short par putts on 11 and 12, three-putted from 50 feet on the par-3 15th for another bogey, but never lost control of the lead and ended up pocketing the US$1.008 million winner's share. The outcome, if any doubt actually existed, was sealed when Villegas' approach from 184 yards on the par-4 16th stopped 15 feet from the pin, setting up a routine par.
Steely eyed for most of the day, Villegas finally acknowledged the crowd as he walked up 18, waving and secure in the knowledge that he was getting his first victory since the Tour Championship in 2008.
"Fair play to him," Justin Rose said. "It was nice to even be in a position to kind of think that way, no doubt."
Kim shot 67 and Rose had by far the best round of the day, a 64 that was three shots better than anyone else in the final round. Paul Casey (67) and Vijay Singh (72) tied for fourth, seven shots back.
"I hung in there," said Kim, who got his best finish since tying for second at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship in 2009. "I still haven't put four good ones together but I'm trying as hard as I can to get there. I'm working on the right things and I'm sure it will come."
Villegas was almost in control from the start. An opening-round 66 had him tied for second, another 66 on Friday earned him a share of the lead, and he left the course Saturday night up by three after shooting 67.
Villegas is now the fourth player who's still under 30 with at least three PGA Tour wins, joining Adam Scott (six) and Dustin Johnson and Sean O'Hair (three each).
Rose is still looking for win No. 1 in the US, though he feels like he's getting closer.
Down by 10 at the start of the day, Rose needed a win to get into the CA Championship at Doral and enhance his chance of qualifying for the US Masters, where he tied for fifth in 2007.
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