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Villegas smiling in St Louis

South American holds his nerve to win first US tournament

Last updated: 8th September 2008

Villegas: Maiden title

Final leaderboard:
(US unless stated)
-15 C Villegas (Col)
-13 D Hart
-12 J Furyk
-12 A Kim

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Colombian Camilo Villegas won his first tournament on the US tour with a gritty success at the BMW Championship.

The South American is only in his third season on the US Tour but showed great courage to hang on over the back nine to clinch his maiden title.

Villegas carded a final round 68 to finish on 15 under par at Bellerive in St Louis and win by two shots from American Dudley Hart, with compatriots Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim a further stroke back in third.

Vijay Singh was also smiling in St Louis as he all-but bagged a whopping �5.6 million bonus for finishing at the head of the FedEx Cup play-off series standings.

The Fijian won the first two play-off events and now only a miracle will stop him winning the prize, as he has to be disqualified or not finish the Tour Championship while only Villegas could then catch him with by winning in Georgia next week.

Another Villegas triumph can not be ruled out though after his display at Bellerive Country Club with the 26-year-old showing composure and skill in equal measure to get out in front and stay there.

Villegas, who completed the final five holes of his third round earlier on Sunday, started the final round with a one-stroke lead over Furyk but fell behind after six holes, before bouncing back in front at the ninth, which Furyk bogeyed.

Furyk also bogeyed the 10th but Villegas saved his par and birdies on 13 and 14 gave the South American breathing space and an advantage that he would never relinquish.

Celebrations in Colombia

Afterwards a delighted Villegas, who plans to return to Medellin to celebrate the success with his family, stated: "It's been a crazy week with the weather, long days but you know what, I'll do everything it takes to win a tournament.

"I'll be there (Medellin) tomorrow and I can't wait to see my friends and family. There's a big team behind me, my family, friends, all my sponsors.

"They motivate me to keep working, keep going, give it all, because it's a tough game and we're playing against the best players in the world.

"Golf has grown a lot (in Colombia) since I got on the PGA Tour. I've got a lot of support from the fans. They keep asking me when I'm going to win and I guess they've got it now."

Villegas claimed the key to his victory had been the manner in which he responded to four-putting at the ninth hole during his third round.

"The four-putt wasn't the turning point," he continued. "It was the birdie, birdie I came back with (at the next two holes). I had been putting so good all week and then I four-putt. It rattled me in a good way.

"I just kept my head up, came back with birdie, birdie and all of a sudden that four-putt was out of my head."

Fredrik Jacobson was the leading European as he finished in tenth, six shots back of the leader, Sergio Garcia was equal 20th at six-under, while a tired Padraig Harrington came in tied for 55th on three-over.