Camilo Villegas eases to Florida success

FINAL LEADERBOARD:
-13 C Villegas (Col) -8 A Kim (US) -7 J Rose (Eng) -6 P Casey (Eng), V Singh (Fiji) Selected others: -2 L Westwood (Eng) level O Wilson (Eng) +2 G McDowell (NI) +4 P Harrington (Irl), R McIlroy (NI)

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Villegas moved up to 12th in the world rankings following his win

Colombia's Camilo Villegas maintained his advantage to win the Honda Classic at Palm Beach by five strokes.

Villegas, who led by three overnight, shot his worst round of the week - a 68 - but still managed to claim his third PGA career win and first since 2008.

The 28-year-old finished his round with a 15-foot birdie, with American Anthony Kim back in second on eight under.

England's Justin Rose was third on seven under after he equalled the course record with a final round of 64.

His round contained seven birdies, of which five came in his first six holes, but was not enough to get him back into the world's top 50 and qualify him for this week's CA World Championship in Miami.

However, Rose, who is playing much of his golf in the United States, is feeling upbeat about his form.

"I have played good enough golf to win out here. I've been close a few times," he said.

It's never as easy as you think. I played great the front nine, then I made a couple hiccups and missed some putts, but I stayed patient Camilo Villegas

"If I can just maintain the direction I'm going and certainly try to recreate the sort of calm mindset that I've had the last few days, I certainly believe it will happen."

Fellow Englishman Paul Casey finished a further shot behind in a share of fourth place with Fiji's Vijay Singh.

Although Villegas dropped three strokes in five holes on the back nine, he finished in style.

He went into the final round with a three-shot lead but quickly doubled that advantage with four birdies in his first 10 holes.

He nearly lost his grip on the lead with three bogeys on the back nine but the rest of the field were unable to capitalise.

The Colombian, who began the week promoting a Nationwide Tour event in his homeland, said: "It's been a long week but it's been a good one and I've loved every second of it.

"Tournaments are four rounds and I played three pretty good ones," he said.

"I was lucky in one. It's never as easy as you think. I played great the front nine, then I made a couple hiccups and missed some putts, but I stayed patient."