Justin Leonard finally got to grips with the Harbour Town Golf Links on Sunday with a final-round 73 to win the WorldCom Classic by one shot on 14-under-par. The 29-year-old 1997 British Open champion has a new appreciation for a course where his previous best finish in six appearances was a tie for 30th.
Leonard's two-over-par final round was his worst of the week, but it was good enough to edge out Heath Slocum and World number two Phil Mickelson who finished third for the fourth time in his last five starts.
Bernhard Langer of Germany finished alone fourth at 11-under-par, while Scott Verplank, Billy Mayfair and four-time winner Davis Love III finished tied for fifth. Leonard had every intention of skipping this event, but added it to his schedule when he realised that he would be taking the next couple of weeks off and did not want a prolonged layoff.
"The golf course toughened up as the week went on", said Leonard. "This afternoon it was much tougher. And especially on the back nine, the greens got so firm that the areas were already small where you're trying to land the ball", he added.
Filed by James Shortt
