Big brother is always watching out in the Villegas house

text size

Getty Images

Camilo serves as a mentor to his brother, Manuel, who he hopes "soon will be able to join me out here."

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Older brothers have all the advantages. They get to experience everything first. There's no shadow to escape from. They make the little brother do all the chores and beat them in everything.

St. Jude Classic

Tee Times
Expert Picks
Sleeper Picks
Power Rankings
Fantasy Insider

"You know what," says Camilo Villegas. "He beats me a lot. And every time he does I tell him, 'You have to trust yourself. You have to realize you're a lot better than you think.' "

Camilo is talking about his younger brother Manuel -- the two will play together in a PGA TOUR event for the first time this week at the St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew.

Being younger does have its disadvantages, too -- especially when said older brother ranks 10th in FedExCup points, 15th in the world and is already a three-time winner on TOUR before his 29th birthday. Never mind the rock-star looks and a personality to match.

It's called expectation. And even though Manuel, who is admittedly more "chill" than his older brother, took a similar path to professional golf, he hasn't had nearly the same success.

After attending the same high school and college -- the University of Florida, where his older brother was a superstar -- Manuel has managed to make just two cuts in six Nationwide Tour starts this season. In 2009, Manuel, who has little-to-no status, played in just two Nationwide Tour events, missing the cut in both. He also tied for 44th and 45th each of the last two years in Puerto Rico in his only appearances on the PGA TOUR.

While Manuel has yet to find his way to the TOUR, away from the golf course he's at least had the best seat in the house to see how to get there. Manuel has lived with Camilo for the past six years, first in Gainesville then in Jupiter, Fla. Even though they only see each other 5-6 weeks a year because of their schedules, Manuel claims it's been an invaluable experience.

"He's been my mentor," Manuel said. "He's had a lot of success and taught me how to play this game and how to prepare." Part of that preparation is trusting and believing in yourself -- easier said than done when you're the younger of the Villegas brothers.

"He deals with it very well," Camilo said. "I can understand it's tough being Camilo's little brother, but he is a very independent guy. He wants to do it by himself and earn everything. He knows it takes time, hard work and realizes nothing is free."

Much of that hard work for Camilo comes in the gym, where his workouts are legendary. Like any little brother, Manuel tries to keep up with him there, too. Or he used to, anyway.

"Not anymore. I'm over it," Manuel joked. "I'm sneaky good in the gym, though, just as long as I'm not on the bike with him -- I got no chance."

Soccer? That's a different story. Manuel was a star for his high school team in Colombia and his coaches tried to talk him out of playing golf to focus on soccer, a much bigger sport in his country.

"Soccer is the one thing I could kick [Camilo's] butt in," Manuel said. "I'm good; he's terrible."

Camilo doesn't argue that, but there's plenty they do fight about. That's what brothers do. Like on the rare occasion when the two are home together.

"I try to keep [the house] clean," Manuel jokes. "But it's never good enough for him. He's very particular."

"I always have to be doing something," Camilo said. "He can sit down on the couch and relax a little bit."

Camilo is quick to clarify, however, that his brother isn't lazy. Far from it, in fact. It's just taking him a little bit longer to get to where he's going.

"It's a tough game and very competitive out here," Camilo said. "Some guys get here in their first or second year, some guys it takes three, four, five, six, seven years."

No matter how long it takes Manuel, big brother will be there to help him try to get there.

"He was a better player when he left UF than when he came in, and he's a better player now than when he left UF," Camilo said. "He's heading in the right direction. I'm just hoping by end of the year he has status on the Nationwide Tour and soon will be able to join me out here."