Cool Villegas holds off Kim to triumph in Honda Classic

Colombian Camilo Villegas kept his cool to win his third PGA Tour event with a five-shot victory over American Anthony Kim in the Honda Classic on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Villegas went into the final round with a three-shot lead and he swiftly doubled that advantage by producing four birdies from the first 10 holes in unusually breezy and mild Floridian weather.

However, Villegas, nicknamed 'Spider-Man' for the elastic-like flexibility he displays lining up putts, nearly lost his grip on the lead with three bogeys on the tougher back nine, including the 15th – the opener to the three hole 'Bear Trap' series.

But with his closest rival Kim bogeying the penultimate hole, Villegas regained his groove, avoiding trouble at the tricky 17th – a par three over water – and finishing his round in style with a 19-foot birdie putt.

"I had a couple of hiccups there in the back nine but winning golf tournaments is always tough. If there is a golf course where you can mess up coming in then it is this one, trust me. Those finishing holes are tough. I just picked my targets, put in good swings and took care of business," he said.

 

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