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Interview with Camilo Villegas

September 25th, 2006

Q: You’re standing on the 18th tee on Sunday with a chance to win. What’s your swing thought as you address the ball?
A: I’ve been feeling so comfortable and confident over the ball recently that I wouldn’t want to change anything or think too much. I would just pick my target and swing at it.

Q: Is there one piece of advice or tip someone gave you along the way that sticks with you?
A: It’s so competitive when you get to the Tour that you just have to be patient. Things can come really quick and they can go just as quick. You hope for a long career out here so it’s important to be patient. Good things will happen.

Q: How do you stay motivated and/or passionate about what you do?
A: That’s easy - I just look around! I’m out here playing on the PGA TOUR with the best players in the world in front of huge crowds. If that doesn’t motivate you, I’m not sure what will.

Q: Who was your role model in golf growing up? What golfer(s) did you try to emulate? If it is a current player(s), have you ever told him or played in the same group as him/them?
A: No matter what you do, you should look at the best and try to learn bits and pieces from each of them. For me, that was players like Ernie Els, Nick Price, Greg Norman and obviously Tiger. I actually played with Ernie a few weeks ago which was pretty special.

Q: How did you develop your very unique method for reading putts?
A: I was struggling last year with my putting and figured I had to do something about it. I tried a few things, including different ways of reading the greens. So during the middle of one round, I went straight down, trying to get as close as possible to the ground. I liked it, it felt comfortable, so I’ve been doing it ever since. I’ve heard some interesting comments from the galleries. At THE PLAYERS Championship, I was playing well and I got down to read the putt on the 17th hole, in front of that huge crowd, and it got pretty loud. It sounded like people liked it. I’m not sure what other players or other people think about it but as long as it’s working, I’m sticking with it.

Q: With your solid play this year, what’s the reaction been at home in Colombia?
A: From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s been extremely positive. Soccer is so huge back home and golf is so small that it’s hard for golf to get much coverage but it’s growing. I’ll do whatever I can to be a positive influence, make a few people smile, and grow the sport in my country in any way I can. The Ford Championship was actually the first time they televised a golf tournament back home. One of the networks back home bought the rights to televise the final rounds of certain PGA TOUR events. After I played so well in the first round, they decided to air the final three rounds. So it was pretty special. I was playing well in the right place at the right time – not only in front of so many Colombian fans in Miami, but also all the people watching back home on TV. It was pretty special.

Entry Filed under: Cobra Tour Pros