Fashion follower Villegas makes big PGA Tour impact

LOS ANGELES, Mar 8 (Reuters) A darling of the crowds and one of the biggest hitters on the PGA Tour, Colombia's Camilo Villegas has given professional golf a much-needed dose of fresh air.

The 24-year-old rookie from Medellin makes sure he enjoys himself out on the course, interacting with both players and fans, and is a noticeable figure as he strides down the fairways with his keen fashion sense.

Lemon, all-white, orange and fuchsia have featured prominently in his golfing attire so far this season and his youthful looks and athletic physique have made him hugely popular with female golf fans.

The bottom line, though, is that Villegas is a richly talented player who could become one of the game's very best over the next few years.

Having qualified for this season's PGA Tour by finishing 13th on the 2005 Nationwide Tour money list, he has vaulted to 14th in the US money list with earnings of 821,571 dollar.

He has made the cut in four of his six Tour starts, tying for second at last month's Phoenix Open and also at the Doral Championship in Miami on Sunday, when he finished just one stroke behind winner Tiger Woods.

Ranked fifth in driving distance on the 2006 Tour, Villegas lies 22nd on the most accurate barometer of player form with a stroke average for the season of 70.23.

His one failing has been erratic putting, especially in the final rounds of tournaments, and it is little surprise that he languishes 102nd in the Tour's putting charts with an average of 29.19 putts per round.

For the moment, though, the Colombian fitness fanatic who was a four-times All-American at the University of Florida is determined to keep enjoying himself while he matures as a player.

HAVING FUN ''I've been saying all year that my main goal is to keep having fun and learning,'' Villegas told reporters after closing with a five-under-par 67 at Doral's Blue Monster course on Sunday.

''I'm not going to push anything. Hopefully the good stuff will come.'' Urged on all week at Doral by supportive crowds that included friends and family, Villegas loves competing on the big stage.

MORE REUTERS PDS PM0938