THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

May 27, 1998

Justin Leonard

JUSTIN LEONARD: Pretty good. Playing at home the last two weeks, which is great, but it's also kind of nice to get away and got some great memories here from 1992 playing the U.S. Amateur. Next week I'm looking forward to defending at the Kemper, so, you know, this is a fun time of year for me.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, I don't think -- I don't think I'm very different. Obviously things around me have changed. My expectations I have for myself maybe are a little higher, but they were pretty high before. I think my confidence has definitely increased. You know, I think I have a better idea of where my game should and can be, but I really don't think that I've really changed too much.

JUSTIN LEONARD: No. I've never felt at ease when my game wasn't very good, and I hope I never start to. You know, that's when I work the hardest is when I'm trying to find something or get my game in good shape.

JUSTIN LEONARD: It still doesn't put me at ease.

JUSTIN LEONARD: The course is in great shape. Hopefully -- it doesn't look like we're going to ruin any shoes this week for the first time in a couple of years. But the weather is great, the golf course is dry compared to the last couple years, and, you know, everything, the rough is thick, the greens are fast. I mean, it's everything you could want.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, I think the second shots really set up the golf course. There's pretty much -- there's room off most of the tees to drive it, so I don't think there's a big premium on driving the ball straight here. But I think it's a second-shot golf course. You know, if you miss greens, you're going to have tough chip shots, because it's the area of the greens and around the greens the bunkers are very deep, very close to the green. It makes chipping and putting, you know, it puts a real premium on those two things.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, you know, I think driving the way I drive the ball, I look more forward to a tighter golf course. But here, you know, you have to be in the fairway in order to hit some of these small greens. So, you know, it's a golf course that I look forward to playing every year.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Nothing. I've taped this finger for like five years.

JUSTIN LEONARD: It hurts if I don't. Callous from the grip.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I almost cut it off this morning when I was shaving.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Thanks. Actually, I was changing a tire on the way here and my finger got caught between the jack and the rim and almost just squeezed it right off.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Yeah, probably so. You know, the last two weeks especially being at home. But, yeah, it's something that I've noticed a little bit, people recognizing me a little more and things like that.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Tired yet from what?

JUSTIN LEONARD: Why would that make me tired? I mean, I think it's a compliment.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I think it's a big compliment. There's a lot of great young players, and to be considered one of those, I mean, I -- no, I might get tired of it if I was 42 and they were saying, "hey he's one of the young great players." Hey, I'm not too young any more. I think it's a big compliment. I enjoy being put in that category.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I have no idea. You know, maybe you contribute to college golf, maybe junior golf, I really don't know. I just -- there are some great, young players out there that are winning tournaments and competing in Majors. And, you know, I think that says a lot for the future of the PGA Tour and the game of golf.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Didn't we just do that one?

JUSTIN LEONARD: Okay, off the course.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, you know, there's more demands on my time and I'm quite a bit busier. Used to be when I would go home for a week or something, it would take me a day or so to get everything done and then I had a couple days to go fishing or just do whatever. And now it seems like it takes three or four days to get everything done. So it's -- you know, it's kind of become a bit of a time management game, you know, trying to find time to relax during off weeks. But it's, you know, it's something that I wouldn't -- I like it this way, better than having nothing to do. So it's something I wouldn't want to give up.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I go fishing every once in a while, but it seems to get less and less.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I don't really know how to answer that. I don't -- I mean, I've never thought about shooting 59. I mean, I've shot 29 a couple times on the front side, but, you know, it's -- I don't know. I don't know if it's -- I think it's a combination. I mean, the equipment is certainly -- technology has carried the game a long ways. Guys are better fit, you know, but at the same time, the golf courses are, you know, they're finding ways to make greens faster, to make fairways firmer. And so I don't -- I don't know. I think -- I don't know if you'll see a 57 any time soon, but I don't know. I don't know how to respond, because I don't -- I haven't thought about it that much, and I really don't -- I don't know if you could really attribute it to one thing.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, I think it's special coming here whether Jack has played well or not. But obviously I was on the course that day on Sunday, and you could definitely tell the difference between the roars that he got and roars or cheers for other players. It's kind of special being there, although I wasn't able to watch any of it. But to listen to it -- and you could hear the crowds even up on 18 when he was on the front side. You could hear the crowd roars as they changed the scoreboard, so, you know, it was pretty amazing being there during that. But I mean, this is a special week regardless of Augusta or whatever has happened.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Yeah. I think -- I think, you know, the golf course speaks for itself. And for him and Mrs. Nicklaus to be so involved makes it a great event.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, I think that relates more to my golf game like I was talking about. A little more confidence in what I'm doing. You know, I also felt a little easier when I was playing at the PGA, at The Masters this year. I felt more comfortable in playing, maybe because, you know, that sort of that pressure that I'd started to put on myself wasn't there. So, you know, I think the benefits that I see they're more towards the golf course. But don't get me wrong, I didn't -- drawback was a word you used. It's taking a little bit of adjusting off the course, and, you know, I think I've done a good job this year. Most of the time that I spend off the course, when I talk about being busier, it's, you know, it's writing thank you notes or doing autographs, returning letters. I mean, it's amazing you know, the best letters when I get written on notebook paper are written in Crayon. You know, does that say club, that kind of thing, from kids and teenagers and all the way up. So it's, you know, I try to take my time and do those sort of things. It does take some time, but at the same time, it's fun that people want to, you know, say, "Good job," or whatever. I haven't gotten too many negative letters, so it's not like, "Oh, dear I have to go through more mail." It's like, "What am I going to find in this batch?"

JUSTIN LEONARD: Well, it was actually their idea. They came to me and said they would like to host a tournament in Dallas, gave me the rundown and everything. I said, "Well, I think that sounds great." All of a sudden it was done. We're having it in two week in Dallas. I'm going to be pretty involved. I'm going to be out there for the Junior-Am and doing clinics and things like that. But the main focus is the juniors that are playing. I hope to get out and watch them play a little bit. It's fun. I grew up playing in some AJGA events, and I've kept up with the organization and things like that. It's kind of nice to be able to really help out with the tournament like this.

JUSTIN LEONARD: No. I mean, I'm looking at the list and things like that, but in fact, I'm not sure where I am on the list. I'd say third or fourth or something, so.

JUSTIN LEONARD: What are the three sides?

JUSTIN LEONARD: One team.

JUSTIN LEONARD: No. This is my blank look.

JUSTIN LEONARD: What? Okay. One, I can't answer that because I've played in both one time, so, you know, it's hard. I never -- if I go through and play two or three Ryder Cups where I did have that year in between, you know, I could better answer your question. You know, I think right now, the Ryder Cup for the American players has a little more than the Presidents Cup. Will that change? Probably so. But I don't think you should change an event like the Ryder Cup. I mean, it's just -- it's incredible to be a part of. It's got to be incredible -- I mean, I've watched. I've never watched one in person as a spectator, but watching it on TV, playing in it, it's incredible, and I -- I wouldn't want to change that event. You know, two, doing that once a year, I mean, yeah, it's kind of tough. And, you know, I know some guys aren't looking forward to the flight to Australia and things like that, but I mean, I had a lot of fun playing in '96, so it's something that should I make the team; I'll look forward to going. I think it's really going to -- I think taking it abroad is really going to heighten the fans' involvement. I think it's going to receive more global attention which is, I think, what the event needs. So, you know, but I don't have a problem, you know, it's one week. There's 52 other weeks, so it's not like it's taking this huge chunk out of anybody's life, except maybe for the captains. But, I mean, for the players, no, I mean, I look forward to playing and hopefully I'll be playing in both for a long time.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Yes.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I've played one here at the Presidents Cup and I've played the Ryder Cup overseas. So there's a very different feel as far as the galleries and the crowds. You know, it's -- I don't know, the Ryder Cup just has a little more history -- well, a lot more history. And, you know, I think there's maybe a little more of a rivalry there right now. But I think as the Presidents Cup continues to grow, you'll see more of that.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Sure.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Yeah. I could understand why he would say that.

JUSTIN LEONARD: Okay. No, it hasn't changed my goals and what I'm trying to accomplish. Yeah, it's difficult to win a tournament out here. I mean, people get disappointed because Tiger Woods doesn't win a tournament, PGA Tour event for nine months. I mean, well, he had two of those months off, so I mean, it's -- and, you know, there's a lot of great players out here every week, and, you know, it's tough. It is tough to win, and -- but, you know, it's one of those things that you have -- different players have different -- what they view as success. I mean, I finished tied for 7th or 8th last week and that was a success for me, because I felt like I played well, I did some good things. So, you know, it's -- there's different goals than just, you know, I want to win three tournaments this year. I want to win a Major. I want to do this. There's different things that make a year determine whether it's good or bad.

JUSTIN LEONARD: I look at it as trying to be ready to play every week, get myself in position, going into the weekend and to Sunday, get off to a good start, do the things I need to do to give myself a chance. Once I have that chance, then I focus on trying to win a golf tournament, but there's a lot -- for me, there's a lot of steps before I get there.

JUSTIN LEONARD: It's not something I really noticed or that I -- I mean, quite honestly pay a lot of attention to. You know, my -- the expectations I have on myself are going to be higher than anybody else's, I can guarantee you that. So, you know, that's what I have to live up to, is what I -- how I rate or grade myself.

JUSTIN LEONARD: What does he do?

JUSTIN LEONARD: What does he do?

JUSTIN LEONARD: I want to do what Jack does. You know, it's different for different Majors. Sometimes if I'm not playing well, I don't want to play the week before. You know, this year before the Open, I'm taking the week before off. Part of the reason is to help out with the AJGA tournament early in the week. You know, I'll go through my normal routines, but I'm probably going to move everything up a day because I'm going out there on Sunday, play three good practice rounds, but there is -- I did kind of learn that going out and playing three or four practice rounds and getting all excited on Tuesday and Wednesday, I didn't quite have as much energy, you know, during the actual tournament. So I've kind of been able to pace myself a little bit during those practice days to where I'm really ready to play Thursday through Sunday, or that's the goal that I have.