Villegas wins BMW Championship

2008-09-08 07:21

St. Louis - Colombia's Camilo Villegas captured the title at the $7m BMW Championship on Sunday, going wire-to-wire for his maiden victory on the US PGA Tour.

"Oh man," said Villegas, who is the first player in 12 years to win his first title by going wire-to-wire. "It was a lot of hard of hard work and it's awesome to be here. Hopefully it's the first of many." Villegas needed just 25 putts for a final round 68 to hold off American Dudley Hart who stormed to a five-under 65 and finished two strokes back.

Villegas' win puts him in second place in the season-ending playoff points race behind Fiji's Vijay Singh, who likely clinched the title.

The 26-year-old Colombian rolled in a three-foot putt on the final hole to seal the victory and finish with a 15-under 265 total.

He is the first player to win his first PGA title in wire-to-wire fashion since Tim Herron at the 1996 Honda Classic.

"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," said Villegas.

"I can't wait to see my friends and family.

Tour Championship

"There's a big team behind me, my family, friends. 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."

Meanwhile, Singh, who won the first two playoff events, cannot be overtaken in the playoff standings as long as he completes 72 holes at the Tour Championship.

And even if he somehow is disqualified and receives no points, he will take the title anyway unless Villegas wins the tournament.

Villegas started the final round with a one-stroke lead over American Jim Furyk, but fell behind after six holes before hitting the front again at the par-four ninth, which Furyk bogeyed.

If one hole was pivotal, it was the par-four 10th, where Furyk made another bogey.

Villegas was also in danger of dropping a shot after hitting a weak first putt from the fringe, but he drained a downhill seven-footer to save par and increase his lead to two strokes.

More birdies at No. 13 and 14 gave Villegas a nice cushion over the fast-finishing Hart, who birdied the final two holes.

- AFP