|
MEMPHIS, Tennessee: Justin Leonard gave himself a second chance,
then made the most of it Sunday as he won the $6-million St. Jude
Classic with a birdie at the second playoff hole.
Leonard needed two holes of the playoff to
dispatch Masters Champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa and
Australian Robert Allenby, who like Leonard finished regulation tied
at 4-under 276.
“It has been a great week,” Leonard said.
“When I won here in 2005, I led every day and almost let it slip
away at the end. This week I’ve kind of been back in the pack a
little bit and was able to shoot a really solid round today.”
Leonard started the day three shots off the
pace.
He took a one-stroke lead with a birdie on 15,
but gave it right back when a wayward drive led to a bogey on 17.
At the final hole of regulation, he slid a
15-foot birdie putt just over the lip.
“Gave myself a really good putt at 18 in
regulation and hit a really good putt,” Leonard said. “I thought
I made the putt and the ball was halfway there, and unfortunately it
didn’t go in but, you know, was able to hit some good shots in the
playoff and make a nice putt there at 11.”
Given a reprieve in the playoff, Leonard dropped
a 19-foot birdie into the cup and then watched as Immelman missed
his chance to extend the playoff.
-- AFP
|
