Camillo Villegas Atop First-Round Leader Board at Phoenix Open

Sports News - February 26th, 2010 - Written By Bryan Cross

Following a record-tying opening round at TPC Scottsdale, Camillo Villegas took the lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Thursday with a 9-under par round of 62.

The former Florida Gator navigated his way around the unique scenery and tricky greens, en route to a bogey-free round, which puts him one shot up on Matt Every, a former college teammate of his.

Villegas continued his solid play from last week, in which he reached the semifinals in the WGC Accenture match play tournament.

Following Villegas and Every, is a log jam at six-under, that includes Justin Rose, Ryuji Imada, Rickie Fowler and Pat Perez.

Villegas capped off his round by chipping in for birdie on the ninth hole, which was the final hole for his day, as he teed off on the back-nine to begin the tournament.

He eluded to the fact that a new approach to the 2010 season has given him the confidence he needs to be successful, following a 2009 season in which he failed to win.

"I was getting a little too concerned with my world ranking position and money list and this and that," Villegas said in a post-round interview, "and I just got a little tight on the golf course. So I needed to put all those things aside and remember that I'm playing golf for a living, and there's a million people out there that would love to be in my shoes, and have fun with it."

This was made evident following a short putt missed last week in match play, which cost him a victory.

"You know what? It's OK," he remarked. "I've got no problem with it. I wish I would have made it, yes. But you know what? It ain't going to change me as a person."

Every equaled Villegas with a bogey-free round, but was one birdie shy of tying his old teammate.

Last week at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, Every was disqualified following his signing of an incorrect scorecard, in which he played with his life-long favorite golfer Mark Calcavecchia. Every remarked that he was angry with the way he played, and signed the card without reviewing it.

"It's 100 percent my fault, and he felt horrible, but it's in no way his fault," Every said. "He's still my favorite player and he was a blast to play with."

As a member of the Nationwide Tour last season, Every earned his way onto the big stage following a victory in the Nationwide Tour Championship.

Villegas and Every played together at Florida for two years.

"It's pretty neat," Every remarked of the first round leader board. "Obviously we played a lot of golf together. Not in the last few years, but he's a really, really good player. ... It's good to see him playing well, especially after last week. I mean, he missed that little putt and he rebounded well, so that says a lot about his attitude."

As a result of his first round, Villegas has been installed as the new betting favorite to notch a victory at TPC Scottsdale. Oddmakers as Bodog sportsbook have installed him as a 7/2 favorite, according to PGA Betting Lines.