Rookie report | Camilo Villegas emerges from Nationwide Tour as a star

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent

Prince of the Baby Bashers. Heartthrob. Powerful presence. Camilo Villegas hasn't won yet, but he will. And soon. This 24-year-old Colombian has everyone talking - about his powerful arms, his mega-drives, his movie star looks and his overall game. He's already finished tied for second twice - the FBR Open and the Ford Championship at Doral - and was joint third at THE PLAYERS. He has $1.246 million in the bank -- without a win. He barely missed making the Masters field, but didn't get upset. He knows there are many more in his future.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents

It's hard not to vote for J.B. Holmes, whose massive drives and Cinderfella story at the FBR Open are equally compelling. I'm going to have to pick Camilo Villegas, though. The 24-year-old Colombian hasn't won yet but he's already posted a trio of top-three finishes -- including last week's steady climb up the leaderboard at THE PLAYERS Championship. He posted that tie for third while playing against the strongest field in golf and with the invitation to the Masters he so coveted hanging in the balance. Villegas has handled the pressure -- and the media attention -- with savvy beyond his years, and he has a Tiger-like charisma that is already bringing the sport to a new fan base.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent

Not to toot our own horn too loudly, but the TOUR Insider saw promise in Camilo Villegas, writing in December that Villegas, a Nationwide Tour grad, is, "a long hitter who can score (and) should cash some checks." Well, with three top-3 finishes, the Colombian native has proven to be not only an overall talent, but also a potential crossover star with mass appeal. His third at THE PLAYERS Championship shows he has more than just a smash-and-gouge game.

Mike Vitti
PGATOUR.com ShotLink Analyst

I know a victory and a strong finish at the PLAYERS puts J.B. Holmes and Camilo Villegas ahead of Henrik Bjornstad in the most important areas, but from the stats perspective I like what Bjornstad did in the first quarter. Averaging 302 yards off the tee, hitting 60 percent of the fairways, and 69 percent of the greens, Bjornstad ranks first on the PGA TOUR in ball striking and is one of the more accurate power hitters on TOUR. Bjornstad has also displayed some finesse, as he currently ranks 13th in sand save percentage and is fourth in scrambling from 20 -30 yards.

Joe Wojciechowski
PGATOUR.com Senior Editor

Tiger Woods doesn't gush very often. He gushed about Bubba Watson. He was amazed when Watson, while playing with Tiger in Japan, flew a 324-yard green with an iron (Woods hit a 3-wood to the front bunker). He admires Watson for trying different shots, as opposed to some young players who hit only one shot all the time. Woods simply says "(Bubba) plays a different game." While most know Bubba for his name, the hot pink shaft on his driver and the fact he's leading the TOUR in driving distance, they don't realize he has a complete game. Witness the fact he's seventh in greens in regulation and top 20 in scrambling. Need more proof? How about a run of 100 holes without a bogey or a pair of top-5 finishes. Yes, he doesn't have a win like J.B. Holmes, but he will before long. Still don't believe it? Ask Tiger.