Justin Leonard found the finishing push he needed by birds five of his last seven holes to win Chubb Classic on Sunday at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, FLA.
Leonard, who entered the day with a one-stroke lead, polished by a 4-under-pair 68 to end the tournament on 15-under 2011, four before Billy Andrade. It is Leonard’s first victory on the PGA Tour Champions and his first professional victory of some kind since 2008.
“It’s been a long time since I have won, and I tell myself all the time that I have won,” said a tearful Leonard on the Golf Channel broadcast. “But it’s easy to forget a little and say:“ Well, will it be? “
“I mean, last year was so bad, it was good. It was good for me. I made some changes with my golf swing and I have a good situation with (his coach) … it’s just so fun to finally be here .
Leonard had a Birdie-Bogey start on his round, and when he was satisfied with Bogey at Par-3 10th he was 1 over for his round. Things could have worsened when he missed the fairway from the 11th tee, but he managed to save couples.
“I felt like after having bogey 10, if I do bogey there, it would be a tough sled coming in,” Leonard said. “It was a big momentum booster … to save the week.”
The 52-year-old continued to roll in Birdie Putts at Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to secure the lead for good. He added birds at no. 17 and 18 for good dimensions.
“I just told myself that I was still in it and I felt my best golf was in front of me,” Leonard said. “… I was constantly told to own the last six holes, the last seven holes.”
Andrade had six birds in their round of 68, including four straight on no. 11-14, but he never climbed higher than 12 during the tournament and walked 1 for his last four holes.
Andrade was happy to have the old friend Mike “Fluff” cowan as his Caddy for the week.
“We got really good this week,” said Andrade. “It was so fun. And hey, I did a little run on the back nine and I didn’t stop it.”
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke (68) placed third in 10 under, and Fred Couples (66), Australian Richard Green (68), Heath Slocum (70) and Paul Stankowski (71) bound for fourth at 9 under.
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