They returned in the morning, and Villegas essentially handed Casey the match by hooking his tee shot into the desert.
“If I continue to do what I'm doing, the rest of the year is going to be a good year for me,” Villegas said.
He wasn't talking about the putt. Or the tee shot.
Walking toward the clubhouse just minutes after a devastating loss, Villegas was talking about his attitude.
No one is chatty after losing in match play, especially so late in the tournament. The 28-year-old Colombian, however, is determined to show more perspective .
“With this game, you can go all the way back to my rookie year,” Villegas said. “I got out here and you have nothing to lose. Man, I'm on the PGA Tour. You're so excited. New tournaments, new golf courses. Five years later, I got to No. 7 in the world, you get a lot more attention, you have a lot more people around you ... your mind can get away from the game. Little things can frustrate you.” Villegas won the final two FedEx Cup playoff events in 2008, but went without a victory last year.
He is determined to change that, starting with his outlook.
“I'm playing golf for a living,” he said. “A million people would give whatever to be here. I'm feeling more appreciative of what I'm doing. This week, I'm having fun.
I have nothing to lose.” He returned that afternoon for a consolation match and beat Sergio Garcia, 5 and 4.
