Camilo Villegas is a PGA Tour winner once more. Coming off his unbelievable end final week in Mexico, the place he tied for second place with Matt Kuchar, Villegas was the final man standing on the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
The Columbian fired off a bogey-free 65 on Sunday to complete at 24-under for the match, beating Alex Noren by two strokes. It was his first win in 3,374 days since he took residence the 2014 Wyndham Championship.
It was one other second in golf that confirmed some issues are far higher than the game.
Villegas ended his drought and recorded his first victory as a dad. He tragically misplaced his 22-month-old daughter, Mia, three years in the past to mind most cancers. Clearly, it was heartbreaking for him and his household.
This win was for her.
“I felt the power. It stored build up. All people right here on the island was nice and rooting me on,” Villegas stated as tears streamed down his face.
“You’ve received to imagine in power, man. Like I stated, I’ve received my toddler up there watching it, smiling. She’s the place she must be after an extended struggle. To all people, I need to say thanks — it’s been a enjoyable week.”
It wasn’t simply overcoming the grief from dropping a baby, however his Tour card was additionally on the road.
Getting into the weekend, the 41-year-old didn’t have his card for the 2024 season. With the win below his belt, the tour card is now safe.
This story is why the FedEx Fall collection is so vital. Villegas hadn’t recorded a top-10 end since 2021 on the Honda Traditional.
He even experimented as a TV commentator in August as a result of issues weren’t going his approach on the golf course.
Villegas made 4 birdies on the entrance 9 to exit in 32 strokes. He averted making errors on the again 9, retaining his scorecard clear on Sunday. He secured the victory with birdies on the par-4 fifteenth and par-5 seventeenth.
The Medellín, Columbia native overhauled his swing with Jose Campra, Sebastian Munoz’s caddie.
“He advised me after we began, ‘you already know what, I feel you’re going to win once more on the PGA Tour,’” Villegas stated. “I’m unsure I believed him, to be trustworthy, however right here we’re.”
He’s projected to leap to No. 75 within the FedEx Cup rankings from No. 147. Villegas is within the area for the RSM Traditional subsequent week, the place he’ll attempt to get inside that top-60 mark and get into the primary two Signature Occasions after the Sentry Championship.
Following her passing in 2020, Villegas began Mia’s Miracles to assist different households who’re coping with pediatric most cancers.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You’ll be able to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough too.
