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Leonard retains Texas
Open title
Justin Leonard was all
business in defending his title at the Texas Open. After his last putt dropped
Sunday, though, there was a release of pent-up emotion.
Leonard's 2-under-par 69
was good enough to beat PGA Tour rookies J.J. Henry and Matt Kuchar by two strokes
as he repeated at the LaCantera Golf Club course in the rocky hills north of San
Antonio.
The Dallas native took home
$540,000 for the win, his first in 31 starts dating to last year's event here.
The 18-under 266 total gave him the sixth victory of his pro career.
He was the tournament's
first repeat winner since Arnold Palmer won three in a row starting in 1960.
On the 18th green, the victory
cheers from his large gallery of fans washing over him, Leonard shed tears that
had been building since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
``I wanted to say something
about the patriotism I've seen this week and I just got choked up,'' he recounted
later.
The attacks forced the postponement
of the Ryder Cup matches in England until next year. Leonard was one of the heroes
of the United States' victory in 1999.
``All of the flags, all
of the patriotism you see throughout the country right now -- you didn't see that
a month ago,'' he said. ``I think it's pretty special to win during this time
and after what's going on and what we've all been through mentally and emotionally
the last three weeks. It kind of all hit me right there on the green.''
A local favorite because
of his ties to the University of Texas, Leonard strode to the 18th green flashing
the ``Hook'em Horns'' sign to calls of ``Go UT!'' from the gallery, many clad
in the school's distinctive burnt orange.
Henry, who had a 66 on Sunday,
began the final round tied for third, five shots behind Leonard.
Playing in the threesome
in front of Leonard, he was in a position to add some drama down the stretch,
but he pushed a 4-foot birdie putt just to the right on the par-4 18th that would
have cut the lead to one.
``When I made that birdie
on 13, I really thought I could win this tournament,'' said Henry, who also finished
second at the Kemper Open in May. ``I'm two shots behind with five holes to play
and some birdie holes ahead.''
Kuchar, who was second alone
when Sunday's round began, closed with a 69.
He had played himself back
into contention with a third-round 64, but tumbled quickly Sunday by bogeying
two of his first four holes.
``I was a little scared
last night,'' he said.
He got back on track with
birdies on 10, 12 and 14, but Leonard kept his distance.
Kuchar thinks his finish
will be good enough to earn his tour card for next year.
``I might throw myself a
little party next week,'' he said.
Bob Estes and Tommy Tolles
tied for fourth at 13-under, one shot ahead of Steve Elkington and Kaname Yokoo.
For Leonard, success came by getting ahead early and then holding on against a
changing roster of challengers.
After making 16 birdies
in the first two rounds -- 10 on Friday alone -- he managed only seven over the
final 36 holes.
On Sunday he was 2 under
for the day after five holes before making eight straight pars. He birdied the
par-5 14th, but gave the stroke back two holes later.
Henry got to 16-under and
within two of Leonard on the par-3 13th with a bending 15-footer. Leonard, who
could see the shot from the elevated tee, followed with a par and walked to the
14th tee with a straight-ahead stare from under the bill of his cap.
The two matched birdies
on the next hole before Leonard got the breathing room he needed on the 15th.
Henry ran a 50-foot putt
past the hole and left his par attempt on the lip for a bogey 5. Leonard missed
the green on his approach, but his short chip rolled within a foot for par and
a three-shot lead.
Leonard bogeyed 16, but
Henry missed his final chance to make it close when he missed the short putt on
the 18th.
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