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With his 2nd victory since October, Leonard is now one of the Top 3 players on the PGA TOUR -- Tiger, Phil, and Justin |
2008 Stanford
St. Jude Championship
Justin Wins Again in Memphis for 12th PGA TOUR Title!
> Now 3rd on TOUR 2008 money list
> 3rd in FedExCup points
> 3rd in Scoring Average
> 5th in US Ryder Cup points
Features:
(click on a headline to go to the topic)
Justin's win brings him closer to Ryder Cup berth
With This Win ...
Leonard wins St. Jude on 2nd playoff hole
“Moving Day” 67 pulls Justin within 3 of leader
Justin Leonard’s victories:
2008 Stanford St. Jude Championship
2007 Valero Texas Open
2005 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
2005 FedEx St. Jude Classic
2003 Honda Classic
2002 Worldcom Classic
2001 Texas Open at LaCantera
2000 Westin Texas Open
1998 THE PLAYERS Championship
1997 Kemper Open
1997 British Open Championship
1996 Buick Open
Justin's win brings him closer to Ryder Cup berth
Justin Leonard’s playoff victory in the Stanford St. Jude Championship was as stylish as the sleek seersucker jacket he was presented at the awards ceremony.
He was elegant and focused all week -- right down to his winning 19-foot birdie putt on the 2nd playoff hole with Trevor Immelman and Robert Allenby.
But within minutes of wrapping up his second victory at TPC Southwind, his mindset was locked in on another primary goal -- this year's Ryder Cup.
Leonard has heard that U.S. Ryder captain Paul Azinger has said, "I just want winners on my team." Sunday's victory was Leonard's 12th career win on the PGA TOUR, so certainly he qualifies.
"I didn't actually see Captain Azinger say it, but I heard Kenny [Perry] repeat it. So those words were with me this week," Justin said.
The victory propelled Leonard, who'll turn 36 on Sunday, into solid standing for the Ryder Cup matches in September at Vahalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. It's been too long, in his mind, since he's been on the American squad and he's fired up.
"Not that there's been any emphasis lacking in the past, but after you get drummed enough times, it's time to get it turned around, and I look forward to being a part of that," Leonard said.
"This (win) puts me in great position to make the team, which is something I've been wanting. For the last nine years, I've been looking forward to one."
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97 Kemper - comes from 5 back to win
97 British Open - comes from 5 back
98 Players Championship - comes from 5 back
07 Texas Open - comes from 4 back
08 St. Jude - comes from 3 back
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Sunday's victory was a reward for some major swing adjustments and much work in the last couple of years, Leonard said.
"I know the work that I've put in with (teachers) Randy Smith and Dick Coop and my caddy, Brian Smith, and the support I've gotten at home from my wife and kids and parents and friends," he said.
"And when you can justify to them, you're sharing -- I'm sharing this victory with those people that pushed me to get better."
Considering his obvious zest for the Ryder Cup, a reporter asked, somewhat in jest, if Leonard has been the "missing link" the last nine years.
"Absolutely," Leonard said, causing laughter in the media center -- himself included. "I can't believe you're the first person to bring that up."
In a more serious tone, he added, "I don't know how much of a lock I am, but I feel pretty good about making it. I'm looking forward to being on that team, and I'm looking forward to us winning again soon."
By Bobby Hall, PGATOUR.COM
To read Hall's complete column, click here.
Q. Since it's been nine years since you made that [Ryder Cup] putt, nine years since the American team has won, are you the missing link?
JUSTIN LEONARD: Absolutely. (Laughter). I can't believe you're the first person to bring that up. You know, I'm looking forward to -- I don't know how much of a lock I am, but I feel pretty good about making it. I'm looking forward to being on that team, and I'm looking forward to us winning again soon.
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Read Justin's complete post-round interview with the media -- click here.
With This Win ...
Justin is 3rd on the 2008 money list, 3rd in FedExCup points, and 3rd in scoring average on the TOUR, trailing only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in each category.
Leonard is 5th in points for the US Ryder Cup team ... behind Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, and Jim Furyk. The top 8 point leaders through August 11th earn automatic berths, and Captain Paul Azinger has four additional selections.
Became the 5th multiple winner in Memphis, joining Dave Hill (4), Lee Trevino (3), Nick Price (2) and David Toms (2).
Now has 5 top-10 finishes in 15 starts this season.
Has eclipsed the $26-million mark in career PGA TOUR earnings.
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Justin nearly won the tournament on the 18th hole -- twice -- before clinching it on the par-3 11th.
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Leonard wins St. Jude on 2nd playoff hole
Justin Leonard thought he won on the final hole of regulation only to see his ball go left of the cup. Then he was a foot away from victory on the first playoff hole.
Luckily, his ball rolled one last turn into the cup on the next hole.
"I don't think that ball would've rolled another half-inch," Leonard said. "It just barely got there the greens are so dry and fast."
Leonard won the Stanford St. Jude Championship in a playoff Sunday, holing a 19-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to beat Masters champion Trevor Immelman and Robert Allenby.
It's Leonard's 12th PGA Tour title, his second at TPC Southwind and his first since the 2007 Valero Texas Open -- also in a playoff. He closed with a 4-under 68 to match Allenby (65) and Immelman (69) at 4-under 276, the highest 72-hole total since this event moved to the TPC at Southwind course in 1989.
Leonard earned $1.08 million and now is fifth in the Ryder Cup standings with five Top 10s this year. He hasn't played in the Ryder Cup since 1999, when his 45-foot putt on the 17th hole at Brookline clinched the largest comeback in history.
It was almost a perfect day for the Texan who spent last week practicing in the Dallas heat, albeit wearing shorts and riding a cart. He started Sunday tied for seventh and was one of 10 who had a share of the lead at some point in the final round with the temperature feeling hotter than 100 degrees.
Leonard was the closest to a birdie on the first hole of the playoff on the par-4 18th only to come up a foot short. All three parred, sending the playoff to the island green at No. 11, where each had good shots.
Allenby, who came in undefeated worldwide in 10 playoffs, went first from 20 feet and missed a foot to the right. Leonard stroked in his putt next, the ball slowing near the cup to show off the Nike logo before falling in.
Immelman, who birdied the last three holes of regulation to join the playoff, had the shortest putt at 11 feet to push the playoff to a third hole in search of his second win in eight weeks. But he just missed, giving the title to Leonard.
-- Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
Click here to read the AP final day 'game story.'
“Moving Day” 67 pulls Justin within 3 of leader
In Saturday's third round, Leonard charged into contention with a 67 -- matching his best total in the 11 trips around TPC Southwind since his 2005 victory.
Leonard is tied for seventh at 208 -- three shots behind leader Tim Clark.
"It was nice to get a few under par and give myself a chance for Sunday," Leonard said. "I played pretty well today. I was 3-under on the front nine. I missed a couple of 8-footers on 12 and 13, but made a couple of nice ones coming in at 15 and 16."
He's far more comfortable at TPC Southwind after winning on the course that was redesigned after the 2004 event, including the switch to Champion Bermuda greens.
"I said after I won that this is one of the better, if not the best, re-design of a course that we play on," Leonard said. "It's amazing what a huge difference the changing out of the greens has been. And then you get the wind like we've had this week, and the golf course is just brutal.
"When you're playing on a calm day, it's challenging but not overly hard. You come out here with 15-20 mph wind, and all of a sudden it gets dicey here. But I do enjoy it because I know the golf course is going to be firm and fast and that's how I like to play."
Bobby Hall, PGATour.com
Click here to read Hall's feature,'Leonard feels right at home in Memphis.'
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