By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- After missing nine cuts in 25 starts last year -- and two of three this season -- PGA National proved to be a welcome sight for Camilo Villegas on Thursday.

The 2010 winner of this event, Villegas shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round.

"It's a tough golf course," said Villegas, who leads Branden Grace, Graham DeLaet, Rickie Fowler and Robert Streb by one. "And I like tough golf courses."

Thursday, he me made it look just the opposite with four birdies and an eagle. Though it also helped to be playing lift, clean and place after overnight rains saturated the property. The wind was unusally calm, too.

Still, Villegas took advantage of the benign conditions better than anyone else despite having arrived here without a card after he failed to finish in the top 125 on the money list last season.

"It's not only the golf course, but I'm sleeping in my own bed, I've got mom and dad here, I've got good home cooking," said Villegas, explaining his comfort level here. "There's a lot of good things, a lot of good vibes around here, and maybe that has to do with my good play."

It's certainly a change from the last couple of years when Villegas' results sank as low as his confidence.

"This game is great when you're playing good," he said. "And when you're out here missing cut after cut, I don't care what people say, yes, we're blessed to have this job, but it's not that much fun."

It wasn't much fun for defending champion Rory McIlroy, who muddled his way through a round of even par that included two birdies and two bogeys.

A year ago, McIlroy moved to No. 1 in the world with his victory here. Thursday, he admitted that he's still trying to get comfortable with his equipment and his swing.

"It's hard to commit to the shot that you need to play every time," McIlroy said. "I felt like I hit the ball OK, not as good as I can, but it's getting there."

Tiger Woods echoed a similar sentiment following a 70 of his own, only about his putter.

"I hit good putts," Woods said. "I was getting fooled on the grain; some of it was snagging, some I would blow right through the top side.

"The green speeds are a little bit faster than they were (Wednesday), but it's an adjustment I need to make."

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The last place Camilo Villegas won might be the next place he wins.

Villegas shot a 64 Thursday at PGA National, where he eagled the par-5 18th to take the lead at The Honda Classic.

The 31-year-old Colombian's last victory was by five strokes here two years ago. In the opening round of this year's tournament, he was nearly as flawless with four birdies and the aforementioned eagle.

Villegas hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 greens in regulation on his way to just 27 putts, including nine one-putts.

The 65 is his lowest round since a 65 in the opening round of last year's Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

Villegas leads Branden Grace and Graham DeLaet by a stroke and a number of others, including Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler by two.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Leaderboard | Projected Money List LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One round down, three to go -- at least for those looking to land a spot in the all-important top 125 on the money list. As Jonas Blixt, who is already well inside that number, put it earlier this week, guys playing for a card is where all the stress lies because they’re playing for their jobs. Others, meanwhile, are eyeing the top 30 or top 70, which gets players into the Masters or invitational events. With that in mind, here’s a look at who moved up, and who fell down, in the opening round of the season-ending Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. WHO’S UP>>> Camilo Villegas: He made the biggest jump of anyone on Thursday. Entering the week, Villegas was 150th on the money list and faced with the possibility of having to go to the second stage of q-school if he fell any further. He responded with a 7-under 65 to sit just one shot off the lead. As such, he’s now projected to climb more than 50 spots should he hold that position. Villegas has struggled since winning two years ago at The Honda Classic, falling outside the top 200 in the world. But he’s played much better of late with three straight finishes in the top 30. Villegas attributes the turnaround, in part, to a more positive outlook. “The biggest change is definitely mental and attitude,” Villegas said. Case in point: He three-putted his opening hole, No. 10 on the Palm Course, only to have nine one-putts the rest of the round. Started: 150th. Projected: 107th. Kevin Chappell: The Californian began the week inside the bubble, but just barely. A 67 gave him a little more cushion. It was also a good sign given his recent play. Chappell came here having missed three of his last four cuts. He also hadn’t broken 70 in any of his opening rounds during that stretch. Another good omen for Chappell: He tied for third here a year ago. If he does that again, his future status will be more thn secure. As for his round, he tallied a half-dozen birdies and just one bogey. He also took just 24 putts, which included 10 one-putts (though that number is a bit skewed since he hit just 10 greens in regulation).  Started: 123rd. Projected: 118th. Chez Reavie: If not for a playoff loss in Boston last year, Reavie wouldn’t even have to worry about his status for next year. As it is, he came to Disney on the outside looking in. A 68, however, puts him right on the bubble (replacing previous bubble boy Billy Mayfair). One big upside for Reavie: His 68 Thursday matched the low score on the much more difficult Magnolia Course here. That will put him in very good position going into the second round. Started: 132nd. Projected: 125th. Charlie Wi: He’s never won in 183 starts on TOUR. A victory this week, though, would have double meaning since it would move him inside the top 30 on the money list and get him into the Masters. This is the eighth first-round lead of Wi’s career and third this year -- he opened with a 61 at Pebble Beach’s Monterey Peninsula CC and a 66 at Bay Hill. Started: 45th. Projected: 29th. Charles Howell III: He began the week 73rd on the money list. He’s now projected to move up to 69th after one of just five 68s on the Magnolia Course. Howell had a pair of eagles in his round, on the par-5 fourth and par-5 10th. He also missed just three greens in regulation. Started: 73rd. Projected: 69th. WHO’S DOWN>>> Rod Pampling: The Aussie came into this week precariously perched just two spots inside the number. After a disappointing 70 on the Palm Course, which played nearly two strokes under par and two strokes easier than the Magnolia Course, Pampling is now projected to finish 126th. Pampling’s 31 putts certainly didn’t help. Neither did a bogey on his final hole of the day, the par-4 ninth. A year ago, Pampling shot 76-69 to miss the cut here. Started: 124th. Projected: 126th. Boo Weekley: The two-time TOUR winner came into the week flirting with the magic number. A 2-under 70 on the Magnolia dropped him one spot in the projections. He’s still safe for now, and he got the more difficult course out of the way on a breezy afternoon, but he’ll need to be careful. Weekley missed four of his last five cuts coming into this week. Started: 121st. Projected: 122nd. Jeff Maggert: The veteran crept closer to the bubble, dropping two places in the projected money following a 72 on the Palm Course. He still has another season before he’s eligible for the Champions Tour, so being fully exempt is important to Maggert. Started: 122nd. Projected: 124th. Billy Mayfair: A year ago, Mayfair entered this week on the wrong side of the number before tying for sixth to finish inside the top 125. Thursday, he shot a 72 on the Palm Course to fall off the bubble. Things started off well enough for Mayfair with three birdies through his first seven holes on the back nine. Then he double bogeyed the 18th and added three more bogeys on the front nine to close in 1 over.  Started: 125th. Projected: 127th. Gary Christian: The 41-year-old rookie said this week he’s just enjoying the ride. It could be a short one if he doesn’t move inside the top 125. He came to Disney two spots outside the number and fell one more after opening with a 71 on the Palm Course. Part of the problem: He had just three birdies on a course that played a couple of strokes under par. He didn’t give himself many opportunities, though, hitting just nine greens and still taking 28 putts. Started: 127th. Projected: 128th. NOTABLES Robert Karlsson: He came into the week 161st on the money list and is projected to drop a spot after opening with a 1-under 71 on the Magnolia Course, which has him in a tie for 48th. Justin Leonard: The 12-time winner entered 138th and fell a half-dozen spots following a 73 on the Magnolia Course. He does have a career money exemption for next season if needed, however. Stuart Appleby: A 74 on the Magnolia Couse has the Aussie projected to tumble four more spots to 166th. In three of his last four starts, Appleby has finished over par.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- After a fast start to his career that included two wins in his first three years on the PGA TOUR, Camilo Villegas went the next four with just one victory.

Worse yet, he came into this week’s season-ending Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic 150th on the money list -- he’d never finished lower than 77th -- and faced with the possibility that he could be without  card for next season.

Thursday, though, he shot a 65 on the Palm Golf Course to share second with Tommy Gainey.

It’s a major step in the right direction for Villegas, who over the last month has played some of his best golf of the season with three finishes in the top 30. Now, he’s looking to take it a step further.

“I beat myself a little bit too much sometimes,” Villegas said. “When you beat yourself a little bit too much, there's little things that make you miserable.”

He had reason to be. After spending at one point more than 30 weeks in the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Villegas has plummeted to outside the top 200. And if he fails to finish in the top 150 on the money list, he’ll have to go through the second stage of q-school -- rather than straight to the final stage if he finishes between 126th and 150th.

In a place that dubs itself the happiest place on earth, however, Villegas had plenty to smile about after his opening round. He made eight birdies, including four in a row at one point, and just one bogey after missing just three greens in regulation. He also putted better than he has most of the season with nine one-putts Thursday. For the year, Villegas ranks 156th in strokes gained-putting.

”I just kept reminding myself how good life is,” said Villegas, who was well aware of his position on the money list coming into the week. “If you're good at this game, if you are out, you will be back in.

“There were a couple times where I just made certain decisions that I kind of knew I was wrong, and I was like, you know, what's going on. That's just not me. Again, why am I going to be miserable about certain little things? Because that's what happens when you're playing bad. The little things just get under your skin.”

Now Villegas’ biggest worry will be trying to hold onto the lead.

This week’s Wyndham Championship marks the final opportunity for players to move inside the top 125 in FedExCup points and reserve their spot in the FedExCup Playoffs, which begin next week at The Barclays.

Starting with the No. 126 player in points (Brendan Steele) going into this week, 44 of the next 55 players in points are playing at Sedgefield. Notables such as Retief Goosen (127th) and Stewart Cink (135th) are not in the field, meaning they will not make the Playoffs this year.

Here’s a look at some of the notables currently outside the top 125 who are playing this week. Which one do you think has the best chance of having a good week and moving inside the top 125?

Click here for latest FedExCup standings

---

Player		Current Rank	Comment
	Y.E. Yang	129th	Made the Playoffs the previous three years, finishing 30th last year. But he hasn’t had a top-10 finish in 19 starts this year.
	Gary Woodland	130th	A year ago, he was ninth in FedExCup points, which essentially clinched his spot for the TOUR Championship. But like Yang, he doesn’t have a top-10 finish (18 starts) this year, has battled injuries and has just two sub-par rounds in his last 21 rounds.
	John Daly	137th	Has never made the Playoffs, but he’s making a late charge this year. He’s move up 26 spots in the last two weeks thanks to a T5 (at Reno-Tahoe) and a T18 (at PGA Championship).
	Stuart Appleby	142nd	Has made the Playoffs in four of the first five years but has just one top-10 finish on TOUR since shooting that 59 in the final round to win The Greenbrier Classic in 2010.
	Camilo Villegas	146th	Villegas has always come up big in the Playoffs – he’s had at least one top-10 finish in every year, and has 10 top-10s (in 18 starts) overall, including two wins in 2008. But his best finish this year has been a T18 in New Orleans.
	Justin Leonard	157th	Last year was the first time Leonard had missed the Playoffs and he’s in danger again. But he comes off a T5 at Reno-Tahoe, his best finish of the year.

Steve Stricker is chasing history this week, looking to become the fifth player to win the same TOUR event in four consecutive years. His opening 6-under 65 at TPC Deere Run left him just four shots behind overnight leader Troy Matteson. Click here to track Stricker with Kyle Stanley and Camilo Villegas as they play their second round at the John Deere Classic. For more updates on the John Deere Classic, follow the event and the TOUR on Twitter @JDClassic and @PGATOUR.