Would you give Camilo Villegas an Invitation to the MASTERS?

[martineli69]

Camilo Villegas just fell short of getting an invitation to the masters by finishing 11th in the 2006 money list. I think he's had a great year so far and has displayed some great golf.

If you were Hootie and had the option of giving Camilo an invitation to play in the Masters would you do it or would you just let him stay off the field? Assuming that no one will be left out of the masters, so he wouldn't be taking anybody's place...

This is just a hypothetical question and I'm not trying to start any bashing... So, let me hear what you guys think!

 

He's credentials have grown in the last year where he went from no status on the nationwide tour to two seconds and a T3rd in the "5th major"....

 

Let's hear it...

[Goose]

Yes i would,

Camilo is a tremendous talent. and great for the game. this could be looked at like the special invitation granted to Lian wei shang the chinese player i believe 2 years ago already. we know that there have been some latin american players in the masters before but this would bring exposure to young latin americans all over. Camilo would bring an extra little excitement factor to the masters with his J.Lindeberg clothes, good looks, great game, and that likeability factor.

 

 

 

GOOsE :)

[CRutherford]

I'd certainly give him an invitation. He has great talent, and from what I've seen has shown that he shows himself very professionally.

[markheardjr]

Definetly, it will make for better television viewing. Also it opens the tournament to another country that might not have paid to much attention to it.

[tmagfan2010]

absolutly--- he is giving golf great exposure to his country and around the world.

[SCameron009]

Yes.

 

He is of the best new young stars and likewise it would bring in a huge television audience, giving people even more excitement watching the hours upon hours of USA's everboring broadcast.

[ForTourUseOnly]

wont happen

they wouldnt give one to monty last year there is no way they will give one to camilo this year, i woudl assume hes the first alternate so maybe if ames pulls out or someone else hes in, not quite sure if there are alternates in the Masters

[kkhere]

Hootie should but unfortunately it probably wont happen. Camillo is great for golf and i hope he does

[InTheHole!]

I would like to see Cam get an invite, but truth be told, I am afraid its all wishful thinking...... how would Hootie J take to Cam lying prone on the hallowed Augusta greens reading putts!

[kblakeney35]

I would like to see Cam get an invite, but truth be told, I am afraid its all wishful thinking...... how would Hootie J take to Cam lying prone on the hallowed Augusta greens reading putts!

 

 

True, true. I think he is great for the game and definitely popular. But it wont happen, not with Hootie.

[Johnny]

Hell no...

 

get there the way people have always got there...on their own.

[mlamar]

don't think so ...

he has to earn it (un)fortunately ... tough situation ... should only

make him want it more ...

[knothead63]

I would offer him an invitation only if he promised to quit dressing like a girl.

[golfer]

No I would not, but no worries, he'll earn his way their in the near future.

[martineli69]

"The Masters Tournament reserves the right to invite foreign-born players, and there was talk, albeit highly speculative, that Villegas could still garner a trip to Augusta in two weeks."

 

This just came up on the PGA TOUR website... Does anyone know if that rule applies only to non-PGATOUR players or is it just for foreign born players? I do remember the case of the asian player that was invited, but not sure if only applies to other over sea tour players...

 

I like to see the different points of view, and they are all valid since they are personal opinions... lets keep the posts friendly :)

 

I grew up playing golf with Camilo and I was hoping he would make it on his own but came up just short... I wish Hootie would invite him, it would be exciting for the masters but I also think that it would be fine to stay away from personal invitations, like Michelle Wie's to this years US Open.... Keep them coming guys... great stuff....

[suwii]

he definitely deserves it!! what a lightning start to the year!!!

[jzatl04]

Although I've quickly become a big fan of Camilo, I wouldn't extend him an invitation to the Masters this year. I mean, he hasn't even won a tournament yet and that wouldn't even get you into the tournament anymore. In my opinion he hasn't earned it yet, though I'm sure he will in due time. (Don't get me wrong, I'll be hoping as much as anyone that Augusta Nat'l will invite him due to nationality!)

 

What I do hope Hootie does is give Ryan Moore a rain check on his invitation, so to speak. Moore earned his return trip by playing well last year (after having such a remarkable amateur career) and I would hope Hootie has some compassion on him since he (Moore) obviously has no control over the hand injury that will cause him to miss this year's Masters.

[thejosh31]

There's really no controversy at the Masters this year that would garner Hootie from giving an exemption to someone like Camillo to distract people so it probably won't happen. Although, as far as people who could receive an exemption, the list seems a little thin and Camillo has proven that he's consitent enough at some tough tracks so you never know. I would give him the chance though, not saying he would win, but I think he'd have a better chance than J.B. Holmes.

[maddsurf]

I would offer him an invitation only if he promised to quit dressing like a girl.

 

hey hey dont be mad he looks better in pink pants than you do in your docker's! :)

[DemolitionMan]

I would not give him an invite. Why? He is on the big tour and needs to earn his spot just like most everyone else. Camillo is young, he will have plenty of opportunity to play in the Masters. He looks almost certain to be there next year and that's quite an accomplishment.

[dolleris]

I wouldn't.

Even though he's been playing hard and earned a lot of $$, he still don't qualify by the book.

His time will come, no doubt!

[peteman29]

No. He can't compete with the real big boys and Augusta is going to be too much for him to handle

[Jack9Suited]

If I were Hootie, I probably would give Villegas an ivitation to the "2006 Masters Tuh-nament." However IMO Villegas really needs to work on his putting. That did cost him some money yesterday. Granted no one really putted that great, however he put himself in some great positions to make birdies, and he missed everything. The 3 putt on the Par 5 9th yesterday was gross. The putts cost him just like at Doral...

[golfclubber]

NO..let's don't make this guy a male version of Michelle Wie..MAKE HIM EARN THE SPOT just like everybody else

[Bushy]

OH YES!!! yes please let the guy play he plays good golf and is entertaining to watch. he attacks the pins and pulls off some great shots.....

[VTHOKIES]

No, the Masters is all about traditions and earning your invite. Don't get me wrong, if Hootie invited him, I would be all for it because I think he is good for golf and the fans. He will play in a lot of Masters before he is done. If he only would have made a few putts at The Players he/we would not be asking this question.

[Noonan]

No. He can't compete with the real big boys and Augusta is going to be too much for him to handle

 

What?? He's proven he can compete with anyone on tour. He's still quite young and is learning how to put an entire tournament together. The kid has major game, and unless you are his Sport's Psychologist, how do you know that the Master's would be too much for him to handle?

 

Some of these point blank statements just crack me up. :)

[TigerStrong]

The answer is NO!!!!!!!!!!! He finished 11th on the money list. Rules are rules. Don't get me wrong he's fun to watch and he's great for the game of golf but he finished 11th on the list and thats that. If he keeps it up he will be in nexts years and he will have earned it. I bet he wants to earn it, we will see him next year at Augusta.

[cpa49707]

No

[GLL]

No, must be earned. Best thing he can do is spend the week practicing putting. if or when he gets that down he'll be able to play anywhere he wants.