Red Bull Ireland

Five years into his run on the PGA Tour, Camilo Villegas has finally broken through. Playing 22 events in 2008, he placed in the top 10 seven times and finished second in the FedEx Cup point standings. Perhaps more impressive, he notched his first two victories, one of which came in one of the biggest tourneys, the Tour Championship. His long hair, form-fitting wardrobe and bulging biceps snagged him a spot on People’s 2006 “Hottest Bachelors” list, but his eyes are firmly fixed on the prize. “Being a top 10 golfer in the world rankings means I have to work harder than ever, and I’m ready to do it,” he says. “I have the best team around me to help me win the FedEx Cup next year.”

Even before his breakout season, the Medellin, Colombia, native had made a name for himself in a different way, thanks to his rather unorthodox approach to reading greens. He leans close to the ground and braces himself with his putter and the fingertips of his left hand; he folds his right leg under his torso and extends his left straight out behind him in a pose that earned him the nickname “Spiderman.” “In a tournament in 2005, I was on the 10th green and had a tough break to read, so I just tried to go low to see the break, and I crouched down,” he explains. “I made the putt, so on the next hole I did it again and it just evolved from there.”

Off the course, the former four-time University of Florida All-American enjoys cycling, hitting the gym (hence the biceps) and staying true to his South American roots. He works with the charity Fundacion Escuela Circo Momo, which aids children and low-income communities in Colombia in the areas of health, education, nutrition and social development. On the course, he tries to savor the moment. “On the 18th green when I win is pretty much the happiest I can be, representing my country and my team,” he says. “That’s what I live for.”