GREENSBORO, N.C. – Camilo Villegas got away from golf for a little while, and his game came back.

A recharged Villegas shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at the Wyndham Championship.

North Carolina natives Webb Simpson and William McGirt shot 64, and Scott Langley, Heath Slocum, Paul Casey, Andrew Loupe and Martin Laird were another stroke back in the final event before the PGA Tour’s playoffs.

Villegas hasn’t won since 2010 and has only two top-10 finishes in the last three years.

After pulling out of the RBC Canadian Open after one round last month, he spent the past week back in his native Colombia for “a little recharge” – leaving his clubs behind in Florida.

“I just thought it was appropriate to hop on a plane and see mom and dad and recharge a little bit,” Villegas said.

It helped him make a late charge up the Sedgefield Country Club leaderboard.

Starting on the back nine, he had three early birdies before getting even hotter late: He followed his birdie on the fourth with an eagle on the par-5 fifth, placing his second shot about 3 feet from the stick.

He claimed sole possession of the lead two holes later with a birdie, sinking a 15-foot putt on the par-3 seventh.

But early leads have been something of a curse at Sedgefield. Since the tournament returned to the course in 2008, the only first-round leader to win was Arjun Atwal in 2010.

And first-round leads haven’t exactly been kind to Villegas lately, either. He held two of them last year, but missed the cut at the Honda Classic and finished 71st at the John Deere.

“I’ve also played great rounds and played some good ones after that,” Villegas said. “It’s a matter of just coming out here and playing good golf tomorrow. There shouldn’t be any relationship between Thursday-Friday and Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday.”

Simpson, the 2011 winner, hopes to make an impression on U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson. His three captain’s picks are due next month. Simpson finished 15th on the Ryder Cup points list.

“It’s on my mind a little bit, but there are so many things I can’t control with what the captain does and how other guys play,” Simpson said. “I think if I have a good week this week – not just today but this week – it’ll show that I really want to make the team. I want to make a good argument for myself to be a pick.”

Simpson has always been a local favorite and top draw at this tournament – even before he claimed his first PGA Tour victory here three years ago, and well before he won the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. The Raleigh native played college golf at nearby Wake Forest and lives in Charlotte.

Playing in the marquee grouping of the day along with fellow Wyndham winners Brandt Snedeker (2007) and Patrick Reed (2013), Simpson birdied his first four holes.

He was briefly at 7 -under before he wound up with a bogey on the 17th when his 3-foot par putt hit a spike mark.

“Normally, the ball will kind of pop right over, but it got it pretty good and went right,” Simpson said. “Late in the day, it happens to everybody.”

McGirt also played well after spending some time away from the game.

After his tie for 25th at the Canadian Open, the fourth-year pro took a break to paint his garage and – as the father of a 17-month-old son – joked that there were a “lot of dirty diapers I got to change.”

He also made a visit to his coach in Charleston, South Carolina, but otherwise kept his clubs in their travel case. He said he typically doesn’t play at all when he’s home.

“I mean, I love to play golf,” McGirt quipped. “But not that much.”

The 35-year-old McGirt who grew up near the North Carolina-South Carolina line in Fairmont closed with five birdies on the back nine to make up for two early bogeys. He wrapped up by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Laird needs a strong week here to climb into the playoffs beginning next week in New Jersey. He arrived at No. 136 on the points list and the top 125 qualify for The Barclays.

It’s a familiar position for him: As a rookie in 2008, he came to the Wyndham outside the playoff picture before his fourth-place tie pushed him into The Barclays.

“Since then, I’ve always liked this golf course,” Laird said. “It’s just a position course. Get in the fairway and kind of pick and choose your spots where you can go at flags. That’s the kind of golf I like.”

Tied for ninth is Mike Weir, who opened with a 4-under 66. Brad Fritsch is tied for 49th after carding a 1-under 69 Thursday.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Camilo Villegas got away from golf for a little while, and his game came back.

A recharged Villegas shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at the Wyndham Championship.

North Carolina natives Webb Simpson and William McGirt shot 64, and Scott Langley, Heath Slocum, Paul Casey, Andrew Loupe and Martin Laird were another stroke back in the final event before the PGA Tour’s playoffs.

Villegas hasn’t won since 2010 and has only two top-10 finishes in the last three years.

After pulling out of the RBC Canadian Open after one round last month, he spent the past week back in his native Colombia for “a little recharge” – leaving his clubs behind in Florida.

“I just thought it was appropriate to hop on a plane and see mom and dad and recharge a little bit,” Villegas said.

It helped him make a late charge up the Sedgefield Country Club leaderboard.

Starting on the back nine, he had three early birdies before getting even hotter late: He followed his birdie on the fourth with an eagle on the par-5 fifth, placing his second shot about 3 feet from the stick.

He claimed sole possession of the lead two holes later with a birdie, sinking a 15-foot putt on the par-3 seventh.

But early leads have been something of a curse at Sedgefield. Since the tournament returned to the course in 2008, the only first-round leader to win was Arjun Atwal in 2010.

And first-round leads haven’t exactly been kind to Villegas lately, either. He held two of them last year, but missed the cut at the Honda Classic and finished 71st at the John Deere.

“I’ve also played great rounds and played some good ones after that,” Villegas said. “It’s a matter of just coming out here and playing good golf tomorrow. There shouldn’t be any relationship between Thursday-Friday and Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday.”

Simpson, the 2011 winner, hopes to make an impression on U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson. His three captain’s picks are due next month. Simpson finished 15th on the Ryder Cup points list.

“It’s on my mind a little bit, but there are so many things I can’t control with what the captain does and how other guys play,” Simpson said. “I think if I have a good week this week – not just today but this week – it’ll show that I really want to make the team. I want to make a good argument for myself to be a pick.”

Simpson has always been a local favorite and top draw at this tournament – even before he claimed his first PGA Tour victory here three years ago, and well before he won the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. The Raleigh native played college golf at nearby Wake Forest and lives in Charlotte.

Playing in the marquee grouping of the day along with fellow Wyndham winners Brandt Snedeker (2007) and Patrick Reed (2013), Simpson birdied his first four holes.

He was briefly at 7 -under before he wound up with a bogey on the 17th when his 3-foot par putt hit a spike mark.

“Normally, the ball will kind of pop right over, but it got it pretty good and went right,” Simpson said. “Late in the day, it happens to everybody.”

McGirt also played well after spending some time away from the game.

After his tie for 25th at the Canadian Open, the fourth-year pro took a break to paint his garage and – as the father of a 17-month-old son – joked that there were a “lot of dirty diapers I got to change.”

He also made a visit to his coach in Charleston, South Carolina, but otherwise kept his clubs in their travel case. He said he typically doesn’t play at all when he’s home.

“I mean, I love to play golf,” McGirt quipped. “But not that much.”

The 35-year-old McGirt who grew up near the North Carolina-South Carolina line in Fairmont closed with five birdies on the back nine to make up for two early bogeys. He wrapped up by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Laird needs a strong week here to climb into the playoffs beginning next week in New Jersey. He arrived at No. 136 on the points list and the top 125 qualify for The Barclays.

It’s a familiar position for him: As a rookie in 2008, he came to the Wyndham outside the playoff picture before his fourth-place tie pushed him into The Barclays.

“Since then, I’ve always liked this golf course,” Laird said. “It’s just a position course. Get in the fairway and kind of pick and choose your spots where you can go at flags. That’s the kind of golf I like.”

Tied for ninth is Mike Weir, who opened with a 4-under 66. Brad Fritsch is tied for 49th after carding a 1-under 69 Thursday.

Tiger Woods removed himself from consideration for the Ryder Cup team Wednesday evening with a clear message that he is not healthy enough to play.

One day after U.S. captain Tom Watson said he trusted Woods to give him the “straight skinny” on the condition of his back injury and his game, Woods said he called the 64-year-old captain to say he would not be available.

The decision spares Watson from having to leave Woods off the team, and it eliminates a distraction over the next three weeks before Watson announces his three captain’s picks for the Sept. 26-28 matches against Europe at Gleneagles.

“I have already spoken to Tom about the Ryder Cup, and while I greatly appreciate his thinking about me for a possible captain’s pick, I took myself out of consideration,” Woods said in a statement on his website. “The U.S. team and the Ryder Cup mean too much to me not to be able to give it my best.”

That he was even under consideration was mildly surprising.

Woods’ best finish this year was a tie for 25th because of nagging back issues at the start of the year that led him to have surgery on March 31. He missed two majors, including the Masters for the first time, and did not return for three months. In the four events he played upon his return, he missed the cut twice, withdrew during the final round at Firestone and finished 69th in the British Open for his worst 72-hole result in a major.

“My primary wish is for Tiger to be healthy and competitive, and I hope that he’ll return to the game very soon,” Watson said in a statement released by the PGA of America. “Of course, I’m disappointed that Tiger Woods has asked not to be considered for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, and that his health is not where he would like it to be. However, I think we can all agree that we need Tiger Woods in this great sport, and he has taken the high road by informing me early on in the selection process.

“My focus will remain on identifying three players to join the U.S. team and give us the best chance for success at Gleneagles.”

Woods said his recent back trouble was not related to the impinged nerve that led to surgery.

He missed the cut by five shots at Valhalla, and he grimaced for the final three hours of the second round at the PGA Championship.

“I’ve been told by my doctors and trainer that my back muscles need to be rehabilitated and healed,” Woods said. “They’ve advised me not to play or practice now. I was fortunate that my recent back injury was not related to my surgery and was muscular only.”

Woods said he would not return until his World Challenge in Orlando, Florida, the first week of December.

That would mean he doesn’t play the Frys.com Open or an exhibition in Argentina with Matt Kuchar scheduled for October. Woods was considering the Frys.com Open, a requirement for eight players who competed in an exhibition in Turkey two years ago.

Watson and Woods have never been close, and they only talked about his Ryder Cup situation for the first time a few weeks ago. Even so, Watson said all summer that he wanted Woods on the team provided he was healthy and playing well.

And while Woods was injured and not playing at all, Watson remained interested.

“I don’t make this comment loosely. He is Tiger Woods and he brings a lot to the team – if he has the ability to play and he’s healthy, “Watson said Monday. “He brings a lot to the team. And I’d be a fool not to consider him.”

Watson already has lost Dustin Johnson, who went 3-0 at Medinah in the last Ryder Cup, because he has taken an “involuntary leave” to face “personal challenges.” Jason Dufner, who went 3-1 in his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, has a neck injury and is out indefinitely. Dufner fell out of the top nine who automatically qualified.

Watson already has three rookies on his team – Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Patrick Reed – facing a European team that features Rory McIlroy and three other players from the top five in the world.

American players have three weeks to audition for Watson before he announces his picks Sept. 2 in New York.

This will be only the second Ryder Cup that Woods does not play. He missed the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla while sitting out the second half of the season following reconstructive knee surgery. That was the last time the Americans won the Ryder Cup.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – There’s always plenty on the line at the season-ending Wyndham Championship – in addition to the tournament itself.

For some, it’s the last chance to play their way into golf’s postseason.

Others are trying to catch Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson’s eye and earn one of the three remaining spots on the U.S. team.

“Everybody is playing for something this week, and yeah, the field might not be as deep as some other weeks around it,” two-time winner Davis Love III said Wednesday. “But the guys that are here are here for a lot of different, very important reasons and playing hard to try to get something out of this week.

“It’s a fun week to watch.”

And a stressful week to play. Even if the players say it’s not.

Webb Simpson – a Raleigh native who played at nearby Wake Forest and lives in Charlotte – insists it “kind of feels like there’s no pressure.”

He says he’s been texting Watson and “hopefully I’ll play well the next three weeks, or at least solid golf, to make it hard for him not to pick me.”

Simpson is one of two former Wyndham winners – along with Brandt Snedeker – who came to Sedgefield Country Club in pursuit of spots on the Ryder Cup team.

Simpson, the 2011 winner, is 15th on the Ryder Cup points list while 2007 champion Snedeker is 20th. Watson will make his three captain’s picks next month.

Last year’s champion, Patrick Reed, has already secured his Ryder Cup spot, and at No. 9 on the FedEx Cup points list, is in good shape entering the playoffs.

All he has to worry about is defending his title.

With his wife carrying his clubs around this Donald Ross-designed course, Reed claimed his first PGA Tour victory here when he beat Jordan Spieth on the second hole of a playoff.

“It really jump-started my career, that’s for sure,” Reed said. “Playing really well here, and actually being able to cap it off and win, it led to me being able to play very well for almost a full year in a row and hopefully that will continue.”

Reed will join Snedeker and Simpson for a threesome Thursday afternoon. A bad sign for Reed: Nobody has won this tournament two years in a row since Sam Snead in 1955-56.

Reed last year became the latest first-time winner at the Wyndham. Four of its past five champions had never won before on tour.

Asked who might be the next to raise a trophy for the first time, Reed said “there are literally so many good golfers out here that haven’t won yet that I literally could not name just one player.

“Anyone out here, if they have a good week and they’re on their game, has a good chance of winning,” Reed said.

For the players on the playoff bubble, the focus isn’t necessarily on winning but on prolonging their season by at least one more week. The FedEx Cup playoffs begin next week at The Barclays in New Jersey.

Among those on the bubble: No. 120 David Toms missed the playoffs last year and No. 124 Jhonattan Vegas hasn’t made the postseason since 2011.

If the season ended now, No. 125 Paul Casey would hold the final postseason spot while No. 126 Sang-Moon Bae, No. 127 Charlie Beljan and No. 128 Greg Chalmers would be on the outside looking in.

And Love – the 2012 Ryder Cup captain who won this tournament in 1992 and 2006 – was at No. 161 on the playoff points list. He likely needs to finish first or second to make it to next week.

“There’s a lot of guys playing for something, playing to keep their card,” Love said. “Obviously, the pressure is not on me to keep my (PGA Tour) card as much as for pride. I want to finish in the top 125. I don’t want to finish outside of it.”

GREENSBORO, N.C. – There’s always plenty on the line at the season-ending Wyndham Championship – in addition to the tournament itself.

For some, it’s the last chance to play their way into golf’s postseason.

Others are trying to catch Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson’s eye and earn one of the three remaining spots on the U.S. team.

“Everybody is playing for something this week, and yeah, the field might not be as deep as some other weeks around it,” two-time winner Davis Love III said Wednesday. “But the guys that are here are here for a lot of different, very important reasons and playing hard to try to get something out of this week.

“It’s a fun week to watch.”

And a stressful week to play. Even if the players say it’s not.

Webb Simpson – a Raleigh native who played at nearby Wake Forest and lives in Charlotte – insists it “kind of feels like there’s no pressure.”

He says he’s been texting Watson and “hopefully I’ll play well the next three weeks, or at least solid golf, to make it hard for him not to pick me.”

Simpson is one of two former Wyndham winners – along with Brandt Snedeker – who came to Sedgefield Country Club in pursuit of spots on the Ryder Cup team.

Simpson, the 2011 winner, is 15th on the Ryder Cup points list while 2007 champion Snedeker is 20th. Watson will make his three captain’s picks next month.

Last year’s champion, Patrick Reed, has already secured his Ryder Cup spot, and at No. 9 on the FedEx Cup points list, is in good shape entering the playoffs.

All he has to worry about is defending his title.

With his wife carrying his clubs around this Donald Ross-designed course, Reed claimed his first PGA Tour victory here when he beat Jordan Spieth on the second hole of a playoff.

“It really jump-started my career, that’s for sure,” Reed said. “Playing really well here, and actually being able to cap it off and win, it led to me being able to play very well for almost a full year in a row and hopefully that will continue.”

Reed will join Snedeker and Simpson for a threesome Thursday afternoon. A bad sign for Reed: Nobody has won this tournament two years in a row since Sam Snead in 1955-56.

Reed last year became the latest first-time winner at the Wyndham. Four of its past five champions had never won before on tour.

Asked who might be the next to raise a trophy for the first time, Reed said “there are literally so many good golfers out here that haven’t won yet that I literally could not name just one player.

“Anyone out here, if they have a good week and they’re on their game, has a good chance of winning,” Reed said.

For the players on the playoff bubble, the focus isn’t necessarily on winning but on prolonging their season by at least one more week. The FedEx Cup playoffs begin next week at The Barclays in New Jersey.

Among those on the bubble: No. 120 David Toms missed the playoffs last year and No. 124 Jhonattan Vegas hasn’t made the postseason since 2011.

If the season ended now, No. 125 Paul Casey would hold the final postseason spot while No. 126 Sang-Moon Bae, No. 127 Charlie Beljan and No. 128 Greg Chalmers would be on the outside looking in.

And Love – the 2012 Ryder Cup captain who won this tournament in 1992 and 2006 – was at No. 161 on the playoff points list. He likely needs to finish first or second to make it to next week.

“There’s a lot of guys playing for something, playing to keep their card,” Love said. “Obviously, the pressure is not on me to keep my (PGA Tour) card as much as for pride. I want to finish in the top 125. I don’t want to finish outside of it.”

OPELIKA, Ala. – The PGA Tour is headed to Alabama next year.

The new tournament will be played July 13-18, 2015, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika. Shaving product company Barbasol will sponsor the tournament for four years.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and PGA Tour officials announced the event Monday. Bentley said the tour will generate millions in tourism revenue for Alabama and put the state in the international spotlight as some of the world’s best golfers come to the state.

“I hope this is the start of a long relationship between Alabama and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and the PGA,” Bentley said.

The Barbasol Championship, scheduled for the same weekend as the British Open, will become part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup competition.

Grand National in Opelika is one of 11 facilities of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail throughout Alabama.

The PGA Championship, run by the PGA of America, was played at Shoal Creek in Birmingham in 1990.

“This is for four years. This is a big deal,” said David Bronner, chief executive officer of Retirement Systems of Alabama. The Retirement Systems developed the golf trail across Alabama.

The Alabama Tourism Department is providing $200,000 to help host the event.

OPELIKA, Ala. – The PGA Tour is headed to Alabama next year.

The new tournament will be played July 13-18, 2015, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika. Shaving product company Barbasol will sponsor the tournament for four years.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and PGA Tour officials announced the event Monday. Bentley said the tour will generate millions in tourism revenue for Alabama and put the state in the international spotlight as some of the world’s best golfers come to the state.

“I hope this is the start of a long relationship between Alabama and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and the PGA,” Bentley said.

The Barbasol Championship, scheduled for the same weekend as the British Open, will become part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup competition.

Grand National in Opelika is one of 11 facilities of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail throughout Alabama.

The PGA Championship, run by the PGA of America, was played at Shoal Creek in Birmingham in 1990.

“This is for four years. This is a big deal,” said David Bronner, chief executive officer of Retirement Systems of Alabama. The Retirement Systems developed the golf trail across Alabama.

The Alabama Tourism Department is providing $200,000 to help host the event.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – U.S. captain Tom Watson said he would be foolish not to consider Tiger Woods as one of his three wild-card selections, a decision that ultimately would be based on Woods’ words instead of his actions.

Watson has said all year he wanted Woods on his team if he were healthy and playing well. Even though Woods is injured and not playing for the next month, Watson wouldn’t rule him out Monday.

“I can’t assess his medical condition and I honestly can’t assess how he’s playing,” Watson said. “It really is going to be having to come from information from Tiger himself. But, again, I don’t make this comment loosely. He is Tiger Woods and he brings a lot to the team – if he has the ability to play and he’s healthy. He brings a lot to the team. And I’d be a fool not to consider him.”

Nine players qualified for the American team after the PGA Championship. Watson has three weeks before he announces his three captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, which is Sept. 26-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Woods’ season ended when he missed the cut by five shots at the PGA Championship, where he said he played through the pain of a nagging back injury. He is not playing the Wyndham Championship this week in North Carolina, and Woods is not eligible for the two FedEx Cup playoff events that will serve as an audition for Watson.

“I’ll be very, very focused on the players who are high up in the ranks,” Watson said.

As for Woods?

He made it sound as if he would have a telephone glued to his ear.

“I will continue to speak with Tiger over the next three weeks to monitor his situation,” Watson said. “Obviously, he has not been playing well. But I think it’s been a result, as you well know, of his injury and his coming back from back surgery.”

Woods has gone more than a year without winning, and this injury-filled year has been like no other. He played eight tournaments and completed 72 holes only three times. He missed two cuts, withdrew from the final round of two other tournaments and missed a 54-hole cut at Torrey Pines, where he is an eight-time winner. His best finish was a tie for 25th at Doral, where Woods played in the next-to-last group on Sunday and posted his highest score ever (78) in the final round.

He finished at No. 70 in the Ryder Cup standings.

Woods hurt his back again at Firestone, though he said it was unrelated to his microdiscectomy surgery in March. He said a trainer popped a joint back into place and he was pain free Wednesday at the PGA. He reported stiffness Thursday and his back “went out on me” while warming up for the second round.

Can he be trusted to be forthcoming with Watson?

“Absolutely,” Watson replied sternly, looking away to make his point.

The 64-year-old captain was asked if Woods’ might want to play so badly that he might tell Watson he is better than he really is.

“Again, I trust Tiger to give me the straight skinny,” Watson said. “I trust him inherently.”

It was difficult to read Watson’s plans for Woods – if any – on this Ryder Cup team because they have never been close. Paul Azinger, captain of the only U.S. team that won the Ryder Cup in the last 15 years, said over the weekend he would not pick Woods because he was injured, not playing well and didn’t know where the golf ball was going.

Watson made it sound as if he were leaning more on Woods’ past than the current state of his game, not to mention his health.

“He is Tiger Woods. He brings something to the team in a big way,” Watson said. “He’s been really good in the team room of recent and he’s a factor with the players. I know that for a fact. He’s a very positive influence on the players. But the most important thing is can he play? Can he physically play and is he playing well? Get back to those two points. Like I said, I’ll monitor that situation in the next three weeks.”

The American team already is missing Dustin Johnson, who has taken a “voluntary leave” for what he described as “personal challenges.” Matt Kuchar withdrew from the final major of the year with a back injury. Bubba Watson has finished in the top 10 only once in the four months since winning the Masters.

Tom Watson said he was happy with the nine players who made the team – Watson, Kuchar, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Zach Johnson. For his picks, he said he wants players in good form and with guts.

“We have got players that can get the job done,” he said.