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Golf Update: Villegas Shows that Tiger’s Dominance Might Be Over

Bookmark and Share by D.S. Williamson

The Honda Classic was certainly a sign that things may have changed on the PGA Tour.  There’s actually no way to know until Tiger Woods does return but Camilo Villegas’s dominating victory in the Honda Classic, a 5 stroke win over Anthony Kim, sure looked like a sign that when Tiger does return, the PGA Tour isn’t just going to snap back into Tigerland.

Villegas has been scintillating so far in 2010.  He finished 3rd in the WGC-CA Accenture, put together an 8th place finish in the Phoenix Open, and then dominated a stellar field in the Honda Classic. The 28 year old Villegas has the looks, attitude and style to be the hottest thing in golf since El Tigre burst onto the PGA Tour scene in 1997.

Oh, yes, he’s a pretty good golfer as well.  What’s even more intriguing is the fact that Anthony Kim, who is 25 years old, finished 2nd to Villegas.  Who finished 3rd?  30 year old Justin Rose. 

Yes, Vijay Singh played a fantastic 4 rounds to secure a 4th place finish, but other than Vijay, the leader board at the Honda Classic ended up being dominated by young golfers.  Villegas, Kim, Rose and the fantastic Paul Casey, all played lights out this past week.

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2010 could turn out to be a watershed year for the Tour as young guys like Villegas are starting to dominate while the old crew has been floundering.  Sergio Garcia has played well in spots, but Padraig Harrinton appears incapable for putting together a solid round and Phil Mickelson has been downright awful so far in 2010.

Will Tiger change that and bring respectability back to the old guard?  It’s doubtful.  Villegas, Kim, Rose and Casey are playing well week in to week out and Rory McIlroy, who has more talent than any of the four, will get his swing back once his bad back heals.  Then, there’s Rickie Fowler who had a terrible Honda Classic, but has shown signs of brilliance in 2010.  Fowler just needs to work on consistency.

Return if you want El Tigre, and yes, golf still needs you, but Camilo Villegas and the rest of the youngsters have already shown in 2010 that the PGA Tour has changed.

Els, Harrington, Yang and Allenby All Blow It

Four of the favorites to win the Honda Classic, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Y.E. Yang and Robert Allenby all played like chumps this past week.

Els ended up at 8 over and in 67th place.  Harrington ended up at 4 over and tied for 40th.  Both Allenby and Yang missed the cut after disastrous 1st and 2nd Rounds.

Then there’s Sergio Garcia who finished at 5 over and tied for 50th.   Only Singh’s 6 under and 4th place finish and Lee Westwood’s 2 under and 9th place finish gave the old-timers something to cheer about.

It’s been an odd 2010.  Not one of the name golfers from 2009 has stepped it up in Tiger’s absence and now they’ve got Camilo Villegas to deal with.

Mickelson Returns This Week and So Does the Pressure

The pressure to be the best golfer in the world will be on golf betting fans taking a stab against Phil has been the way to go lately.  The WGC-CA may be no different.

The purse of the WGC-CA is $8,500,000 which dwarfs the purse of this past week’s Honda Classic.  Lefty won in 2009 but the favorite in 2010 might be the terrific Steve Stricker who is the 2nd ranked golfer in the world.  Who else has a shot to win the WGC-CA?  How about Honda Classic winner Villegas who finished 5th in the 2009 WGC-CA?

Tiger Woods is not returning this week in the WGC-CA.  So, it’s time to put that rumor to bed, but there will be plenty of wagering opportunities for golfing fans in the golf sportsbook.  The WGC-CA is a huge tournament and should set up some golfers for a superb Masters’ run in April.

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