Villegas: Superb putting
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Camilo Villegas insisted he was loving the challenge of links golf after firing a spectacular second round of 65 to move into contention at The Open.
The Colombian, who is featuring in his first Open, is only playing at Birkdale because American Kenny Perry decided to skip the event.
He opened his campaign with a first round of 76, but came storming back on Friday when he produced easily the best round of the championship to date with a stunning five-under-par 65.
In all Villegas made eight birdies including five over his final five holes and needed just 23 putts on his way around.
While acknowledging that the conditions are far removed to what he is accustomed, the 26-year-old claimed to be relishing the challenge.
"I had an awful putting round yesterday and an unbelievable putting round today," he explained. "Yesterday everything was bad, my speed, my short putts so I told myself don't think about it, just let the putter head do the work not my hands.
"I'm here because Kenny Perry decided not to come, I'm glad he didn't. I hit a pitching wedge 176 yards at the last and that tells you how funky it is to play golf round here.
"It is just so different to what we are used to - downwind you can hit a driver that goes 370 yards and then you get into the wind and you're hitting it 230.
Funky
"I love the fact that you have to use your imagination and hit all these funky shots."
Villegas actually started with a pair of bogey fives at his first two holes, but regrouped well before finishing in stunning fashion.
"My caddie just told me to keep battling, keep grinding and I came back with two birdies on four and five, then the back nine was obviously very special," he added.
