PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) — Colombia’s Camilo Villegas, a five-time PGA Tour winner, has been voted by members as the new chairman of the tour’s Player Advisory Council, the PGA Tour announced on Wednesday.
The 42-year-old South American star will serve as chairman for the remainder of the year then replace Jordan Spieth as member of the PGA Tour Policy Board for a three-year term starting in 2025.
“My goal is to use 2024 to learn the most, to be as prepared as I can when I have to sit with the big boys there, the guys that are actually making the big decisions,” Villegas said.
“I’m excited. I’m going to give it my best. I’m going to try to be as analytical and reasonable as I can and add my two cents.”
Voting concluded on Tuesday between Villegas and American Kevin Streelman for the job of directing a council that consults and advises PGA commissioner Jay Monahan and the policy board on issues impacting the tour.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It just happened that this is the time to do it,” Villegas said. “I’m just curious to know a little bit more what’s going behind the scenes.”
The PGA Tour Policy Board is in talks with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, backers of the rival LIV Golf League, about making a final deal from a framework agreement reached last June with Monahan.
“I think the game of golf is in an interesting situation,” Villegas said. “I think the rope is pretty tangled up. It needs to be untangled. It will get untangled.
“How long will it take? We don’t know. We wish we had a crystal ball. I truly believe the game of golf will win.”
Other players on the current board, all of whom have terms through at least 2025, include Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson.
Earlier this month, the PGA Tour announced a deal with Strategic Sports Group, a collection of US team sport club owners, on PGA Tour Enterprises, a new program with $1.5 billion in equity.
“There are a lot of angles and different avenues we have to analyze to come up with a solution,” Villegas said. “But trust me, SSG, they’re not dumb. They’re smart. They’ve been successful in everything they’ve done. They saw an opportunity.”
“I think more important is how we get more people looking in the same direction with the same purpose. That’s what will make this tour stronger and the game of golf stronger in SSG’s investment.”
