Upbeat PGA rookie Jhonattan Vegas is quietly confident of success in this week’s Shell Houston Open.
Vegas’ visit to the Shell Houston Open Media Centre was like a breath of fresh air. He was open, bubbly and answering questions with a genuine spirit that he wanted to tell his story.
Houston-based Jhonattan Vegas looking to win the Shell Houston Open
Vegas was the first ever player from Venezuela to win on the PGA Tour in earlier this year capturing the Bob Hope Classic.
And boosting his chances of winning this week is the fact Vegas attended the University of Texas here in Houston in 2002 and now makes America’s fourth largest city his home.
“I came here to Houston in 2002 to live with my golf teacher, Franci Betancourt,” he said.
“Later that year I decided to return and ever since Houston has been my residence and it’s been great. I got to play the Shell Houston Open that following year, ’03 as a Monday qualifier which brings back pretty good memories.
“So my first PGA Tour experience was here in Houston so it’s great to be back and I’m loving it and having a good time.
“But I going out there this week and try to win. That’s kind of what I do every week and I know it doesn’t happen every time but I feel my game is headed the right way, been playing good, some up and down weeks but I still have confidence and I’m playing great.
“Only God knows what’s going to happen but I’m going to try and win.”
Since coming onto the Tour Vegas has got friendly with Angel Cabrera and also Australia’s Aaron Baddeley.
“I have become really friendly with Angel Cabrera and I have been talking with him a lot about Augusta,” he said.
“He’s made Houston his residence, too.
“Aaron Baddeley from Australia is also great and I’ve played a few practice rounds with Aaron.”
In fact, Cabrera hosted a bar-b-que on Saturday with Vegas and others as guests.
As the first ever player from Venezuela to compete at Augusta National, Vegas knows there is going to be huge interest in his Masters appearance.
“It’s going to be like playing the World Cup as everyone that knows a little about golf is going to be watching the Masters and for the first time to have somebody from Venezuela to be playing, it’s going to be really nice,” he said.
“So I’m sure the whole country is going to be excited.”
