WGC ANDERSEN CONSULTING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

February 23, 2000

Justin Leonard

JUSTIN LEONARD: I didn't play well. I missed the cut last week in LA. And I've been working on a few things the first couple of days, but not feeling real comfortable. I didn't know what to expect going out there today. I missed my first two fairways, but happened to birdie two. And from then on, played pretty solid. I made a 30-footer for birdie on 3. And I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a bogey at 6, but then birdied 8 and birdied 12. So I think I took advantage of some opportunities that I had and played where Fred really had to press. And it's hard, too, in conditions like they were today.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Working on my posture, really had to address. And just trying to get through the ball up to my left side. So it feels a little different, but obviously today hitting some good shots. I came in today with no confidence, and I finished the day with a lot built up from the way I hit the ball.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Pretty rough. The wind is picking up. It looks like it could rain at any second. And the golf course is real soft. So it's -- if a golf course is firm and it rains, you can hit it down low and keep it under the wind. But you're not able to do that here because it's so soft. So today I did a pretty good job of judging things and keeping the ball up in the air.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I've always had a very -- a good view of match play, and I've always enjoyed it. Obviously I played more of it in amateur golf, which seems -- it used to seem pretty recent. Now it's getting further and further away from my amateur career. But playing in some Presidents Cup matches and Ryder Cup matches, it's a lot of fun. I wouldn't want to play every week, but it's a nice change of pace. And anytime you can get -- I'll give you the PGA TOUR quote, "the world's 64 best together," some fun things are going to happen.

JUSTIN LEONARD: There aren't. I think that was proved last year at this event. On any given day, any player in this field can beat anybody else. And I think seeding it is just a matter of showing who's going to play against who; it doesn't necessarily mean there's a favorite.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I don't know, I've done both several times. Sure. I was thinking about it last night. You only had to beat one guy today. And so with the way I played, I had some confidence. And tomorrow you go out and beat one more guy. And so that's kind of the way I was looking at it and probably will continue as long as I get to hang around.

JUSTIN LEONARD: It's an important week. It's fun because it's different. But I don't think -- there's a reason the Majors aren't match play tournaments, because the battle is over 72 holes. There, you can have an off day and still have a chance to win. Now, at this event you can have an off day and still win, but sometimes you're not always rewarded for great play. But it's unique and it's exciting. And as long as I'm still playing, I'll think that way.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I had this weekend off.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I'd like to know how they do that. No, I haven't had much time off. I had a couple of weeks off at the beginning of the year. I'm traveling next week, and then I have a couple of weeks off. So I'm taking a few two-week breaks during the year. But no ten-week vacations for me.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Oh, I don't know. Yeah, I've had periods in December or whatever where I've had that much time off. But I enjoy playing, and I don't want to get away from playing tournaments for that long.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, the more you ask me, yeah (laughter.) I think I've got my schedule set up between now and May to where I'll be ready for Augusta. And then I can get my game ready for the summer and the two Opens and the PGA.

JUSTIN LEONARD: 8, I hit I think a 9-iron to about 8 feet. And then 12 it was like 40 yards from the green and pitched up to about 8 feet, and made that.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I stayed in LA, hanging out with some friends. I went to the Getty Center, which I would recommend.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Sunday afternoon.