2023-11-12 23:42:33
Camilo Villegas is looking up at the sky after making the putt that confirmed his victory at the PGA Tour Butterfield Bermuda Championship on the 13th./AFP Yonhap News
Camilo Villegas (41, Colombia), nicknamed ‘Spiderman’ for his unique style of reading the green with his entire body pressed against the ground, was a brilliant player on the PGA Tour in his youth. He attracted the attention of fans with his model-like slender body, outspoken playing style, sharp speaking skills, and free-spirited lifestyle.
However, after winning the Wyndham Championship in August 2014, his performance declined and he went downhill. Additionally, she was struck by tragedy when she lost her 22-month-old daughter Mia to brain cancer in July 2020.
Villegas emerged from the abyss of sadness and stood again holding the championship trophy.
The PGA Tour Butterfield Bermuda Championship (total prize money: $6.5 million) was held at the Port Royal Golf Course (par 71, 6,828 yards) in Southampton, Bermuda on the 13th. In the final 4 rounds of the tournament, Villegas recorded 6 birdies without a bogey and recorded a total of 24 under par 260 strokes, beating 2nd place Alex Noren (Sweden) by 2 strokes to reach the top. Villegas, who lifted his fifth trophy on tour in 9 years and 3 months, received $1.17 million (1.6 billion won) in winning prize money and 500 FedEx Cup points, raising his FedEx Cup ranking from 147th to 75th. Villegas won two years of tour seeding and the right to participate in next year’s major tournaments, the Masters, PGA Championship, and Players Championship.
Villegas, who missed the cut seven times in 11 competitions this season, finally returned to the top after finishing second at the World Wide Technology Championship last week.
Villegas succeeded in making the championship putt on the final 18th hole (par 4) and looked up at the sky for a moment, shaking his right fist. “My child is up there,” he said in his victory interview. “Mia will be smiling and watching from the sky.” “There have been many challenges getting here, but we have received unbelievable support. I received 500 text messages (last week). I think I was able to achieve good results by receiving positive energy from those around me. “I would like to thank you,” he added.
Villegas won his first win at the Tour Championship in 2008 and continued his success with 4 wins until 2014. However, her performance subsequently declined, and during an event on the Korn Ferry Tour, the second part of the tour, in June 2020, she revealed that her daughter was going through a difficult time due to brain and spinal tumors. A month later, her daughter Mia left for heaven. Villegas was unable to overcome his struggles last season, missing the cut only 12 times in 26 competitions. His world ranking, which had risen to 7th during his heyday, fell to 654th.
However, Villegas and his wife helped patients and their families experiencing similar difficulties through a charity foundation called ‘Mia’s Miracle’. “Golf has given me so many great things, but it also kicks me around along the way,” said Villegas, who won the title three years and four months after his daughter passed away. “Life was the same,” he said.
Noren, who had been leading for three days in a row, was pushed to second place (22 under par, 262 strokes) due to a poor performance in the last round, including consecutive bogeys in the 9th and 10th holes (par 4).
Marty Schmidt (Germany) was third (21 under par, 263 strokes). Noh Seung-yeol finished the tournament in a tie for 72nd place (5 under par, 279 strokes).
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