Villegas looks to maintain progress

Colombian ace Camilo Villegas is looking to cement his position as one of the top golfers in the world this year after a tremendous season in 2008.

The University of Florida product first caught the eye in his rookie season on the US PGA Tour in 2006 when he enjoyed two runner-up finishes and a third place in his first nine events.

But he stepped up to the big time late last year with back-to-back wins at the BMW Championship and The Tour Championship which saw him take second place in the FedEx Cup Series behind Vijay Singh as well as elevating him into the top 10 in the world rankings.

Buoyed by his success, the 27-year-old is now looking to take his game to a new height.

“I believe my career has been great since I was a junior. It’s a process and you’ve just got to take it one step at a time,” said Villegas, who is the highest ranked player at this week’s Johnnie Walker Classic at the Vines Resort and Country Club in Perth.

“Some guys get on Tour and win right away and you never hear their name again. Sometimes they go and win right away and play great.

“I believe I’ve done everything in a good pace and I try to improve every year - that’s my main goal. I believe that when I played the Tour in 2006 and 2007 I was a better player; 2008 I was a better player, and that’s my goal for 2009.

“It was very gratifying to see the two wins happening at the end of the year to position myself in a better spot in the world rankings and to increase the challenges ahead of me, because that’s what happens when you play good.

“You’ve got to challenge yourself more and you’ve got to improve and get even better and live up to it.”

The Colombian intends to devote much of his time to the US Tour once again this year but has also set his sights on the Race to Dubai after taking up affiliate membership with the European Tour.

His schedule suits a player who has global ambitions.

“People think I play the European Tour because of the Race to Dubai but it’s not true,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted to be a world player. The problem is that when you’re not top 50 in the world, it’s tough to set a schedule. You don’t have those seven tournaments that count both ways and you have to put you priorities in order.

“But the great finish last year, getting myself in the top 50, it changed things a little bit, so I decided to make a move. It happened to be that the Race to Dubai started the same year and I’m really excited about it.

“I think it’s something great, let’s don’t put it aside, but I’ve got world sponsors and I want to play around the world and I want to represent them. I want to represent myself around the world and I enjoy it.”

Villegas is the most successful golfer ever to emerge from Colombia and hopes to use his fame to popularise the game in his football-mad country.

“It’s been great. The support from the Colombian media and the fans has been very, very good. We are trying to grow the game of golf in a country where it’s all about football,” he enthused.

“But we are slowly just taking it step by step, and we also have a foundation that’s nothing to do with golf but trying to help out in the country that needs some help in certain areas. If we can help in one way or the other, that makes me feel good.”