Seasoned Vegas confident entering 2012

• By Ryan Ballengee
• Jan 6, 2012 1:58 PM ET

After winning in his fifth PGA Tour start at the former Bob Hope Classic, Jhonattan Vegas became an overnight sensation. While reaping the benefits that came with being a rookie winner last year, the Venezuelan said Thursday that it came with challenges.

"It wasn't all good, but at the same time, I had to deal with a lot of stuff that I wasn't ready for, or, you know, my team wasn't really ready for, which was a challenge," he said.

Between dealing with the media, pro-ams and other commitments that come with being a Tour winner, Vegas said his focus on golf wavered.

"That was a challenge a little bit," he said. "And that's kind of why – as soon as two or three weeks after I won – I kind of was so tired and so overwhelmed from everything, that I wasn't really playing as well."

The 27-year-old Vegas, though, did not downplay the privileges that came with his win at the event now known as the Humana Challenge.

"At the same time, it was really fun, really enjoyable and a lot of things came with that, really positive things – to play the Masters, PGA Championship – so it's very nice," he said.

Thanks to a positive finish to 2011, which included a tie for fifth in Las Vegas and a 10th-place showing at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, Vegas feels confident entering his sophomore season.

"It's all about getting your head in the right place and doing the little things good. And that's kind of what I feel like I did on the last part of the year, and I feel like I'm doing right now," he said.