Mon, Dec 01, 2008
Camilo Villegas claims wire-to-wire victory.

Golf

GOLF

Man with good looks looks good on back 9 to win first PGA title

the associated press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.08.2008
ST. LOUIS — For three years, Camilo Villegas managed to make a name for himself without winning.
He was the young Colombian with model good looks and chic clothing, limber enough to strike a pretzel-shaped pose on the green to read putts, earning him the nickname "Spider-Man." Trouble was, not many of those putts went in.
That changed Sunday at the BMW Championship.
Clinging to a one-shot lead on the back nine at Bellerive, Villegas saved par with a 12-foot putt, followed that with two birdie putts and finished off a 2-under 68 for a wire-to-wire victory and his first PGA Tour title.
"It was a pretty good little stretch there that just tested my nerves and showed myself that I was good enough to stay out there," Villegas said.
Villegas pulled away from former UA standout Jim Furyk, held off Anthony Kim and wound up winning by two shots over Dudley Hart, who birdied his final two holes for a 65.
With one playoff event remaining, the FedEx Cup essentially is over.
Vijay Singh, who won the first two events, tied for 44th and earned enough points that all he has to do is complete four rounds at the Tour Championship in two weeks to collect the $10 million payoff.
European Tour
CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Swit-zerland — France's Jean-Francois Lucquin won the European Masters, beating Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy with a birdie in a playoff.
The 19-year-old McIlroy held a four-stroke before the final round, but bogeyed two of the first three holes and then missed a 5-footer for victory on No. 18 to settle for a 71. He then missed a 1-footer and made bogey on the second playoff hole before Lucquin holed a 12-footer for his first European Tour victory.
Ladies Euro Tour
HELSINGOER, Denmark — Annika Sorenstam ended her pro career in Europe by taking third in the Nykredit Masters.
The 37-year-old Hall of Famer from Sweden closed with a 2-under 71, leaving her five strokes behind winner Martina Eberl of Germany. Eberl closed with a 66 for a 14-under 205 total.