The public parking lot was wiped out by the rain, the tournament started a day late under gray conditions, and the gallery still turned out in strong numbers, a tribute to a golf-mad city that hasn't seen this caliber of play since the 1992 PGA Championship, won by Nick Price.
Villegas delivered most of the moments, including a string of four birdies that began with a 40-footer at No. 5 and ended with a pair of tap-ins inside a foot.
Asked what he learned about last week that carried forward to St. Louis, Villegas said, "That I can play out here, I guess." Still to be determined is whether he can hoist a trophy.
Villegas advanced to the third round of the playoffs by making the cut at TPC Boston, and his tie for third enabled him to move up 33 spots to No. 25. One more solid week will get him into the Tour Championship.
Herron, however, was on his way home until closing with a 65 to tie for fifth and advance to St. Louis. He kept right on going, playing with confidence from his first top 10 of the year, finishing his round with a birdie. His only concern was the 36 holes that awaited Saturday to make up for the washout Thursday.
"Tomorrow will be a test, because I'm not in great shape," said the Minnesotan known as "Lumpy" for a reason.
How would be prepare?
"I'm going to hit a few bunker shots and then go to bed," he said.
Perry was among those that had his mind on the cup -- not the FedEx Cup, but the Ryder Cup in two weeks. Ditto for British Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington, who had a "respectable" 69.
Harrington said his plan was to peak for the Ryder Cup.
"I just didn't envision so much drama in the summer," he said of his two majors.
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