Camilo Villegas has experience winning. And he’s put himself in an excellent position to achieve just that on the PGA TOUR for the second week in a row.
In addition, he is one of six seasoned competitors in the top half of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship leaderboard who are attempting to climb up in the FedExCup Fall standings.
Villegas is only one stroke behind Alex Noren at 19 under, having shot 65 on Saturday. At eighteen under, he is tied for third place with Ryan Moore and Matti Schmid. Moore is forty, and Noren and Villegas are forty-one. They competed in college golf matches. They now discuss their children and the sports they like to play.
Then, 43-year-old Adam Scott and 50-year-old Stewart Cink are just a shot back.
Age is just one factor in the numbers that make up golf.
“The truth is, I feel at ease in such a situation. All in all, three days, one more, just need to maintain the status quo.” Villegas said.
Only 7 days ago, Villegas was right in the thick of things at the World Wide Technology Championship, where he tied for 2nd. Villegas is searching for his 1st PGA TOUR victory since 2014. For Villegas, who was ranked 227th in FedExCup points 10 days earlier, the campaign had been difficult. This season, he had only made 3 of 10 cuts, with his best finish coming in a tie for 48th at the Puerto Rico Open.
He will close off this season by playing in The RSM Classic the following week. Villegas, who is always anxious to parade a trophy to Sea Island, stated that patience will be the key to Sunday’s Bermuda finale.
“I noticed that my golf was suffering because I was becoming a little too agitated when putts went in or I made a poor shot. It’s everything you desire so badly. As a struggling golfer, as I have been for the past few years, I believe that when you want something so badly, you start pushing too hard, and eventually the game gets the better of you.” Villegas said.
“I’ll get a restful night’s sleep and carry those emotions through to Sunday. I’m going to wait. I hope we get going well right away. If not, we’ll wait patiently and see what benefits good golf can offer. This golf course is excellent. There will be a slight change in the wind. We’ll see what happens, but there are some excellent finishing holes where you can get some strokes back. I’m thrilled.” he added.
With a victory, Noren, who opened the week with a tidy 10-under 61, is predicted to move into the Next 10. The Butterfield Bermuda Championship 54-hole scoring record was set by him with a 19-under 194.
Although Noren has ten titles on the DP World Tour, he has not yet won on the PGA TOUR. The closest he has ever come to victory on the TOUR was in 2018, when he lost to Jason Day in a playoff match at the Farmers Insurance Open.
It is his 162nd start on the PGA TOUR this week.
“It’s my desire to do that. You imagine yourself in the final group on a Saturday or Sunday, with a chance to win.” Noren said.
As the concluding event on the PGA TOUR schedule this season, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship offers a lot to aim for, including the trophy, on Sunday.
On the FedExCup Fall standings, Villegas is expected to move well inside the top 125, while Schmid is predicted to move from No. 148 to No. 126 and just on the bubble. Additionally anticipated to get into the top 125 is Ryan Moore. Regardless of the length of time spent on the PGA TOUR, several players are going through a crucial period right now.
Noren claimed the experience had changed his perspective going into Sunday’s grand finale. The chance to play in the final round has him more excited than anxious.
“I believe there is actually more excitement because I have a lovely family and am generally content with life. I’m not as anxious as I would have been ten years ago when I was living more alone,” he said.
A decade ago, circumstances were different, but the objective remained the same for Noren, Moore, Villegas, Scott, Cink, and the other players near the top of the standings on Sunday in Bermuda.
It’s time to take home a PGA TOUR victory.
“I’ve been making an effort to keep my mind clear and peaceful and to let the game be the game. Let’s keep it going as it’s been going really well these past several weeks.” Villegas said.
