Camilo Villegas touched a finger to his temple.
“Let me tell you,” he said in his thick Colombian accent. “That shows what the mind can do.”
He had just heard the shocking news.
While Villegas sat confidently in an interview chair after shooting one of the best rounds of his career, an eight-under-par 63 at Riviera Country Club, Jordan Spieth was hustling away from a day he only wanted to erase.
On the same course, in the same afternoon conditions — a decent breeze and the poa annua greens sprouting their afternoon land mines — Villegas beat the world’s top-ranked player by an astonishing 16 strokes on Thursday in the first round of the Northern Trust Open.
While Villegas, ranked 226th in the world, charged to a three-shot lead, Spieth found himself next-to-last in the 144-player field with an eight-over-par 79 that was the worst opening score of his career.
Villegas attributed such a disparity between himself and such a fine player to the maddening head games golf produces. Before he knew Spieth’s score, he had been speaking of his own mental battles.
“When you go through the ups and downs of this game, during those ups the mind is strong,” he said. “During those downs, the mind can get a little shaky.”
Of Spieth’s predicament, Villegas said, “Obviously, he must have lost a little bit up here [pointing to head] and had a bad day. Everybody has bad days in this sport, man.”
At only 22, Spieth has had his share of tough rounds, with 10 career tour scores of 78 or worse. He also has won seven times, three more than Villegas, including two majors.
But from the very start at Riviera on Thursday — not making birdie on the easy first hole — Spieth’s play in every facet was uncharacteristically muddled.
Suffering eight bogeys and a double bogey on No. 18, Spieth missed eight putts from inside 10 feet, including one from 31 inches.
“It’s just a day to forget,” a composed Spieth said. “It’s one in, hopefully, every couple of years. … I’ve shot 80 a couple of times on tour. I shot 79 today on a par-71. In the course of a career I imagine it’s going to happen. Just unfortunate when it actually does.”
Spieth said he was surprised by the result considering how good his game felt, but added that he was perplexed by how much the conditions of the course changed — from extremely firm and fast to soft and accessible after the overnight rain.
“I found it very difficult to trust the way the golf course is playing,” he said. “I’ve never played the golf course soft. I’ve always played where you have to kind of float it on the front of the greens and let it bounce, and I just never trusted the adjustment.”
Usually emotional and demonstrative on the course, Spieth never looked overly frazzled, and he even shared a laugh with former college rival Justin Thomas when they putted out on the last hole, after Spieth three-putted from eight feet for double bogey.
“I went through a few tournaments after Hawaii [where he won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January by eight shots] thinking that’s what I’m going to do every week,” Spieth explained. “And I just need to manage my expectations and realize the greens aren’t 50 yards by 50 yards … and you don’t putt that well every week.
“I tried to do that better today, even when it wasn’t going my way.”
Villegas knows well about not always being able to live up to expectations. He was considered among the young guns on tour in the early 2000s, but he’s now 34 and in his 11th year on tour, with four wins on his resume in nearly 260 starts.
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Bubba Watson cradles the winner’s trophy on the 18th green after rallying for a victory in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2/54
Dakota Watson, who is 18 months old, romps on the 18th green as father Bubba Watson accepts the winner’s trophy for the Northern Trust Open.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3/54
Bubba Watson waves to fans after hitting his approach at the 18th hole on Sunday during the final round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 4/54
Bubba Watson walks ahead of Jason Kokrak toward the 18th fairway.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5/54
Bubba Watson waves to fans after making a birdie on the 17th hole that put him in the lead of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 6/54
Bubba Watson slams a long drive during a round of 68 on Sunday to win the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club. He finished four rounds at 15 under par.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 7/54
Jason Kokrak falls to the ground after missing a birdie putt on the 18th hole that would’ve put him in a tie for the lead.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 8/54
Adam Scott hits from the trees surrounding the green on the 10th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open. Scott saved par on the hole.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 9/54
Fans receive high-fives from K.J. Choi as he walks to the 15th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/54
Jason Kokrak blasts out of a greenside bunker at No. 16, helping him save par during the final round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 11/54
Steve Stricker hits out of a fairway trap on the eighth hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 12/54
Dustin Johnson hits a shot out of the rough at No. 8 during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 13/54
K.J. Choi watches his drive on the par-three 14th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 14/54
Adam Scott watches his drive land on the green while on his way to a biridie at the sixth hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 15/54
Rory McIlroy puts at No. 1 during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 16/54
Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the eighth hole during the third orund of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 17/54
Bubba Watson tees off on the fourth hole Saturday during the third round of Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 18/54
Chez Reavie hits from a bunker to the third green during the third round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) 19/54
Troy Merritt drives from the second tee during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) 20/54
Hideki Matsuyama lines up a putt on the first hole during round the third round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 21/54
Kevin Chappell tees off at No. 2 during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 22/54
K.J. Choi reacts after sinking a putt at No. 3 during the third round of the Northern Trust open on Saturday.
(Frederic J. Brown / AFP / Getty Images) 23/54
Charl Schwartzel hits around a tree from the rough along the first fairway at Riviera Country Club on Saturday.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 24/54
Rory McIlroywatches his tee shot at No. 2 during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
(Frederic J. Brown / AFP / Getty Images) 25/54
Jason Kokrak takes his shot out of a fairway bunker on the seventh hole during the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday.
(Robert Laberge / Getty Images) 26/54
Bubba Watson acknowledges the crowd after finishing the third round of the Northern Trust Open on Saturday at Riviera Country Club.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) 27/54
Spectators lean over the rope to watch Rory McIlroy hit out of the rough along the 18th fairway at Riviera Country Club on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 28/54
Jason Kokrak acknowledges the crowd Friday after finishing the 18th hole at Riviera Country Club. Kokrak leads the Northern Trust Open at 10 under par after a seven-under 64 on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 29/54
Chez Reavie reacts after sinking a birdie putt at No. 18 to finish the second round with a four-under-par 67. He’s in second place after two rounds of the Northern Trust Open at nine under.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 30/54
Bubba Watson hits a chip shot from the rough on the 17th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 31/54
Justin Rose hits out of a sand trap at No. 9 on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 32/54
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot at No. 11 on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. McElroy is tied with seven others for seventh at six under.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 33/54
Bubba Watson tosses his putter after missing a birdie putt on the 12th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday. Watson is tied for third at eight under after two rounds.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 34/54
Jason Kokrak hits his approach shot into the 18th green during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 35/54
As afternoon shadows lengthen across Riviera Country Club, leader Jason Kokrak follows through on his approach shot into the 18th green during the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 36/54
The kikuyu grass flies as Rory McIlroy hits out of the rough along the 12th fairway Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 37/54
Ernie Els hits out of a greenside bunker at the 10th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 38/54
Jason Kokrak hits a chip shot onto the 17th green during the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 39/54
Justin Rose hits from under the branches of a tree at No. 10 on Friday during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 40/54
Rory McIlroy hits from the rough at No. 10 during the second round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41/54
James Hahn, the Northern Trust Open winner last year, hits out of a sand trap at the 10th hole during the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday. Hahn missed the cut at four over.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 42/54
An aerial view of Riviera Country Club, site of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament, taken from the MetLife blimp on Friday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43/54
Camilo Villegas tees off on the ninth hole during first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 44/54
Camilo Villegas reacts after sinking a birdie putt on the eighth hole during the first round of Northern Trust Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 45/54
Jordan Spieth prepares to tee off during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 46/54
Jordan Spieth chips onto a green during the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 47/54
Rory McIlroy doffs his cap after finishing the first round of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament on Thursday at Riviera Country Club.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 48/54
Justin Thomas and his caddie line up a putt during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 49/54
Justin Thomas reacts after missing a putt during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50/54
Fred Couples tees off during the first round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 51/54
Fred Couples fist-bumps Justin Thomas after both sank long birdie putts at the fifth hole during the first round of the Northern Trust Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 52/54
Bubba Watson tees off at No. 9 during the first round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 53/54
James Hahn, the 2015 winner, lines up a putt during the first round of Northern Trust Open on Thursday at Riviera Country Club.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 54/54
Justin Rose lines up a putt during the first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Heading into Riviera, there was zero indication he was ready to challenge Riviera’s scoring record of 61. He missed four straight cuts to open 2016.
“I would say I was a little surprised with my eight under, to be honest,” Villegas said. “This is a golf course where it’s not easy to shoot eight under. I was surprised by some of the putts, I mean the greens are not greens where you’re expecting to make 20-footers.”
Starting at 10, Villegas made nine birdies in all, including four straight from the fifth through eighth. He arrived at the par-four ninth needing a birdie to tie the course record of 61.
His approach missed the green right, but from 58 feet Villegas nearly holed out the pitch, and then he missed the seven-foot comebacker and made bogey.
“Man, I thought I made that chip,” Villegas said.
Spieth knows the feeling. Some days you think you’re going to make everything. And some days you can’t make anything.
tod.leonard@sduniontribune.com
