Troon Champions: Justin Leonard

He won at Troon before that putt at the Ryder Cup

What’s it like slugging it out with today’s young guns?
It’s challenging, that’s for sure, and I’ve reduced my schedule this year to play 10 or 12 events, just the ones that I’m excited to play and on the courses
where I feel I have a good chance that maybe don’t favour the long hitters as much. It’s an effort to stay excited about the game after 22 years.

What ambitions do you have left?
Another win on Tour would be great, but really just to enjoy it and remind myself that I can still compete and get into contention out here. I had a couple
of opportunities in the second half of last year where I was able to get into the mix. I enjoyed those feelings again. There are a lot of guys who have played well into their mid-40s like Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, two good friends who have played well at the age I am now. I use these guys as inspiration.

Do you have anything to prove?
I’m not really trying to prove anything to anybody at this point. I’m just playing because I love the game, I enjoy the practice and I think that when I’m at home taking time off, it should only help that process.

What have been the biggest changes in golf since your win?
Mainly the new technology and materials, such as the size of the driver heads, while the golf ball goes and does things nobody thought was possible say 13
years ago. Then you’ve got the group of younger, fearless players who burst onto the tour straight away and are ready to win big tournaments.

How much are you relishing your return to Troon this summer?
A lot, and it’s good to be able to go back to a place with so many great memories and relive all that. Plus the fact that it’s not there every year, which makes it even more special.

Was your 1997 Open triumph the pinnacle of your career?
I’d say it is the highlight of my individual career, if that makes sense. But those Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup memories, specifically the Ryder Cup, are hard to beat when you think you were able to share them with a number of other guys.

Are your Open memories still vivid?
I haven’t seen the DVD in a while, but the memories, especially those later in the week, are still vivid. The early parts of the week have blurred a little over time. But not those last few holes on Sunday… I can still remember what I was thinking coming down the stretch.

Such as?
Making the putts at 15, 16 and 17. I hit a poor shot on 15 to the right of the green, pitched it to about 12-15 feet and made that putt; on 16 I made about an 8-10 footer for birdie and then hit a really good 3-iron into 17 to about 30ft and made that. At that point, coming down the stretch trying to win the tournament and being able to make those putts… they
are memories I will never ever forget.

What do you need to win The Open?
It’s as much mental as anything else. In 1997 it blew pretty hard on Thursday and after that it was really nice, but typically there’s something about the elements that you have to get through. Also, links golf is something we don’t play that often and I think there’s a mentality where you have to be patient and accept an odd dubious bounce here and there. Accept what’s thrown at you. It’s hard to be a really emotional, excitable player because one little bounce the wrong way can do you in.

What are your favourite holes at Troon?
The Postage Stamp. All your nerves are channelled into a 125-yard shot. It’s pretty amazing. The front and back nines are so different, especially in any kind of wind. You’ve really got to change gears whenmaking the turn coming back in. 17 has special memories for me, a difficult but straightforward par 3 and making that long putt there changed my world.

How did you celebrate?
After going through all the media commitments it was pretty late when I got back to the hotel and saw my folks for the first time. We ordered a couple of pizzas and a tray of pints and took them to the 17th green. We drank beer and ate pizza in the dark for a couple of hours. Nobody knew we were there. It was great.

You’re just as well-known for Ryder Cup…
That’s right, and it would be fantastic to get another one under my belt at the end of the year. It’s feasible, though playing such a reduced schedule means it would be difficult to make the team.

What was it like making the winning putt at Brookline in 1999?
It doesn’t get any better than that.

Can America win this year?
I hope so, I really do – just to silence some of the critics. It seems the PGA of America are doing everything they can to find that winning formula. But it’s down to the players. You think at some point the cycle will completely change.