Camilo Villegas takes the Bermuda Championship 2023
Camilo Villegas Caps Comeback Story With First PGA Tour Win in 9 Years
Last week’s runner-up finish at the World Wide Technology Championship was the best finish for Camilo Villegas in nearly a decade, when he won the Wyndham Championship in 2014. He didn’t need another nine years to post a better finish. Here the Bermuda Championship 2023 Recap
Villegas shot a 65 to overtake Alex Noren and beat the Swede by two strokes at the Bermuda Butterfield Championship on Sunday.
It’s been an incredible turnaround for the Colombian, who was outside the top 200 in the FedEx Cup standings before the event in Mexico.
“I never felt so comfortable being in contention like I did the last couple weeks, to be honest. It’s kind of weird, it’s kind of strange. Even when I was in contention back in the day, few years ago, 10 or more, I didn’t have this calmness,” Villegas said. “The game of golf is about taking advantage of certain streaks and this one is one that started last week, played great this week.”
Planning ahead, Villegas had already enrolled in Q school, expecting not to have a tour card for 2024. He missed 20 of 37 cuts over the past two seasons. Now, the 41-year-old ranks 75th and has secured his playing future on the PGA Tour through 2025. He’ll also be competing in the four majors, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, and The Players Championship.
At this year’s Wyndham Championship, he was even planning for another career. He made his debut as a broadcaster for Golf Channel, but he didn’t feel like he was done yet.
“The reality is that I am getting older,” he said in August. “I’m 41, you don’t see too many 40-somethings winning on the PGA TOUR. I have been struggling first with an injury and then trying to get back into top form. And your reaction is – because you know, they are seeing your career wind down a little bit – but your heart doesn’t want it that way; you want to keep competing. So that’s the reason why my reaction was the way it was.”
Even the oddsmakers didn’t buy into Villegas despite his strong finish last week. He came into Bermuda as a +11000 underdog. Despite a 67 on Thursday, he found himself six shots behind Noren, who started the tournament with a 61.
After Saturday, Noren’s lead was just one stroke. Villegas responded with a bogey-free round on Sunday, birdieing holes 15 and 17 for the winning margin of two strokes at a 24-under 260. Noren, a multiple-time winner on the DP World Tour, was denied his first PGA Tour victory.
Matti Schmid finished third at -21, and Carl Yuan was fourth at -20. Pre-tournament favorite Adam Scott finished tied for fifth with Ryan Moore. Stewart Cink was seventh, and there was a five-way tie for eighth among Tyson Alexander, Kevin Roy, Ryan Palmer, Taylor Pendrith, and Vince Whaley.
Up Next
The final event of the PGA Tour Fall schedule is next week’s RSM Classic in coastal Georgia. Adam Svensson is the defending champ and he will be challenged by the likes of European Ryder Cup rookie champ Ludvig Aberg and The Open Championship winner Brian Harman, who finished runner-up in this event last year.
We’ll get more into this weekend’s tournaments and Breaking Golf News. But for now, complete your (free) registration and claim our Golf Betting Promo to bet on your favorite player!
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