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Courtesy of Greg Hardwig
Naples Daily News
NAPLES - Camilo Villegas is more than just a pretty face, or the guy who lines up putts in an interesting way.
Late this season, many casual golf fans figured that out when Villegas won the final two FedEx Cup events, one wire-to-wire and one in a playoff over Sergio Garcia.
 Villegas won the final two FedEx Cup events this year, one wire-to-wire and one in a playoff over Sergio Garcia. |
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"Hey, it took a little longer than I would've liked, but you think about it twice, it was actually perfect timing," said Villegas, who turns 27 on Jan. 7.
That timing earned him $1.26 million for each win, and he had already won $406,000 for his tie for third at the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second of the four FedEx Cup events. That vaulted him into second in the FedEx Cup points race, and seventh in the World Golf Rankings and on the PGA Tour money list. The second-place finish in the FedEx Cup earned him an additional $3 million.
For many on the tour, Villegas' breakthrough -- he also became the first Colombian to win a PGA Tour event -- was just a matter of time.
Villegas was a four-time All-American at the University of Florida, getting named to the first team three of those years. After turning pro in 2004, Villegas made five of 10 cuts on the tour, then earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 13th on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2005.
"The kid's got unlimited talent," said veteran tour player Mark Calcavecchia, also a former Gator. "That was phenomenal golf he played. He's got the future potential to be one of the best two or three players in the world."
That talent, oh, and those looks that got him featured in GQ Magazine and as one of People Magazine's Hottest Bachelors in 2006, will be on display this week in The Franklin Templeton Shootout at Tiburón Golf Club.
"He's got a closet full of tight trousers, a set of boxer's biceps and more screaming female fans than Justin Timberlake," GQ wrote.
And those fans get a different view of him when he lines up a putt. In 2005, Villegas started using a method to read putts where he crouches low to the ground with his entire body. That got him the nickname Spider-Man.
"It helps me make more putts," he said, matter-of-factly. "People reacted to it in a great way."
And people also reacted to those looks. While being known for that and for the Spider-Man stuff may bother some people, Villegas put that out of his mind.
"I've always tried to be myself," said Colombia's Sportsman of the Year. "That's who I am. The way I dress, the way I talk, the way I treat people. ... I try not to hide too many things. At the same time, I try not to listen too much to what people think. I can't really control that."
It's the second straight year in the event for Villegas, and he'll do more than listen to his playing partner this week. He's playing with tournament founder and host Greg Norman, who also is the captain for the International team for the 2009 Presidents Cup.
"I'm very, very excited," Villegas said. "I'll be not only playing with him as a partner, I'm sure I'll be trying to get in his head -- in a good way -- and learn."
Villegas has learned how to win. Now he just wants to do more of it.
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