Sports

Golf

Leonard masters Hope, likes trend

Associated Press
Published January 31, 2005

---

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Justin Leonard knows what the previous two Bob Hope Chrysler Classic champions went on to accomplish, though he isn't phoning in his coat size to Augusta yet.

Leonard came from three shots back to pass faltering leader Joe Ogilvie on the third hole Sunday on his way to 5-under 67 and a three-shot victory over Ogilvie and Tim Clark.

Last year, Phil Mickelson used a Hope title as an early springboard to win the Masters, his first major championship. Mike Weir did the same after winning the Hope in 2003.

"I would say it's just coincidence, but look at the two guys who won this tournament the previous two years," Leonard said. "Two pretty good players that probably set up pretty well for Augusta.

"I love playing Augusta. I'm looking very much forward to it."

Leonard, the 1997 British Open champion, ended a winless string dating back almost two years.

"I enjoy taking pressure off myself, because I'm usually a little more relaxed and have a little more fun," he said. "It will inspire me a bit, knowing that one is not enough."

Leonard finished the five-day, 90-hole event at 28-under 332.

Ogilvie, winless in six years on the PGA Tour, closed with 73. Clark, who won the South African Open in his native country a week earlier, shot 69.

Coming off his worst year since joining the tour full time in 1995, Leonard hit six birdies and had one bogey in the final round at PGA West's Palmer Course.

He began the day three shots behind Ogilvie, who was tied for the lead or alone at the top in each of the first four rounds.

"The rain dance didn't work," Ogilvie joked. "I was trying for a rainout today, but that didn't happen. I certainly didn't play the way I would have liked today, but I got a pretty good front row seat for a great round of golf (by Leonard)."

Clark was impressive considering he had never seen any of the four courses used for the Hope. After he won in South Africa Jan. 23, he hopped on a plane and spent some 50 hours traveling - and waiting between connections - to reach California.

"Coming here so far, such a travel, I didn't expect much of a week," Clark said.

The week was a blur to him.

"I can't even remember my (final) round, to be honest," Clark said. "I couldn't even tell you what I did on (No.) 3. I don't even remember what 3 looks like."

Leonard missed the cut at Torrey Pines, but the way he finished the Buick Invitational may have been an omen. Able to play only 17 holes of his second round Jan. 21 because of fog, he was 2 over.

Unlike a half-dozen other players who also weren't going to make the cut and withdrew, Leonard showed up the morning of Jan. 22 to finish his round - by playing one hole.

He birdied the par 5 and said that he finished because he felt it was the right thing to do, adding, "Plus, look at all the momentum I gave myself for next week."

Leonard started the final day of the Hope by sinking two birdies that drew him into a tie when Ogilvie started bogey-par. Ogilvie then bogeyed No.3 and Leonard's par put him alone at the top.

Peter Lonard, who started the day second, two strokes back, shot 72 and finished tied for fourth with Loren Roberts at 336. Mickelson fell out of contention with double bogey on the par-4 No.13. His 71 left him tied for 12th at 21 under.

Champions Tour: Irwin

has a record day

Hale Irwin became the first player to win a men's professional tour event five straight times, easily holding off Dana Quigley by five strokes in the Turtle Bay Championship in Kahuku, Hawaii.

The 59-year-old Irwin closed with 5-under 67 for a record 16-under 200 total.

With his sixth overall title in the event, Irwin pushed his tour-record victory total to 41. The three-time U.S. Open champion shared the mark of four straight victories in an event with Tiger Woods (Bay Hill Invitational, 2000-03), Gene Sarazen (Miami Open, 1926, 1928-30), Walter Hagen (PGA Championship, 1924-27) and Tom Morris Jr. (British Open, 1868-70, 1872).

With the trade wind kicking in, Irwin controlled the Turtle Bay Resort's balmy, oceanside Palmer Course, breaking his tournament mark of 11-under 205 set in 2001.

Irwin took away any suspense early with five birdies on the front to take a six-stroke lead.

EUROPEAN PGA: Nick Dougherty won his first tour title, shooting 5-under 67 for a five-stroke victory in the Caltex Masters in Singapore. The 22-year-old finished 18-under 270 on the Laguna National's Masters Course. Defending champ Colin Montgomerie closed with 70 to tie for second with Maarten Lafeber (69).

CADDIE UPDATE: Steve Williams, Tiger Woods' caddie, was released from a New Zealand hospital after having surgery on his left hand. Williams gashed it to the bone Friday in an auto race when his modified saloon car flipped and hit a safety wall on the last lap of a dirt-track event at the Baypark Speedway in Tauranga. He did not know when he would be able to carry Woods' bag again.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Vance Veazey finished with 70 to hang on to his lead, winning the Panama Championship in Panama City, Panama. His 272 total for 72 holes was a stroke better than four players tied for second: Camilo Villegas, Jim McGovern, Jon Mills and Shane Bertsch.

[Last modified January 31, 2005, 00:38:15]