Portrush, Northern Ireland – Justin Leonard had five basic words for his first 18 holes in 153 open. “It was really fun today,” he said with a big smile. Emphasis on entertainment.
If this feels too simple, this is what this sport and course will do. Open Championship Golf at Royal It is a labyrinth of complications that also reduce TV speakers in accuracy. At the time Leonard was quickly strolling his way from the marking area, this is the glut of what he came. It was really fun. Honestly, it should not be said much more. Moreover, This was impressive, man!
Leonard is 53 years old, who is right around age This game begins to forget about you. Players half of your age hit him nearly twice longer. His continued presence in this tour – an exception to the age of 60, for open profit 28 years ago – was questioned by many of the most ruthless commenters on the Internet.
What is he doing here?
Leonard’s final response arrived on Thursday evening-one under 70, three leaders of the leaders. Everyone on a tour he is not trying to win.
“Look, it’s golf links,” Leonard said, still a little reductive. “It’s a little different. I can use the land. Everything doesn’t have to be in the air. It certainly helps.”
Of course you do. The distance is as irrelevant here as its theme – one of the most important topics in any other major this season – nor does it squeeze into press conferences. no one He is talking about how far the ball flies. They are talking about how much rain and wind and strong terrain send it off the line. Leonard’s golf can play much easier catch as long as he is hitting him straight.
For this, he is grateful for a little time with his coach, whom he normally takes on Facetime because his coach is Mike Thomas, who spends most of his weeks making another Justin, his son. (His other consigliere is Randy Smith, who dedicates most of his time to a boy named Scottie Scheffler.) This is the first time Leonard has been able to work with Mike Thomas in four months. On Tuesday and Wednesday they resolved Leonard’s tendency to close the club a little while taking it, and through 18 holes was greatly worked on. When those 18 holes are pushing you into a square way to make your first big championship shortening in 11 years, you have no choice but to think of some high goals.
“I think of Greg Norman again – what was she – Birkdale (in 2008, at the age of 53),” Leonard said. “And obviously Tom (Watson) on turnberry (in 59). Look, I’m not trying to compare myself with those boys, but it gives you a little, Okay! If I can have a really nice putter week, drive the ball well, do everything well – look, I’m not trying to win the golf tour. But I can play well. ”
He is right about that. As much as the golf world is intended to be fixed for Bryson dechambeau length Or Scheffler’s ability or Rory Mcilroy’s importance, there is a rebirth of the types that occur for players in their 40s. See: Justin Rose (-2), Sergio Garcia (-1), Adam Scott (+1). At least one of them seems to appear in every major these days.
But in this in particular, you can see a little magic starting from the generation in front of them. Fifty -five -year -old Phil Mickelson matched Leonard 70 on Thursday. Fifty -two -year -old Lee Westwood made them a better one, shooting two under. Leonard admitted that arriving in a big championship after spending most of the year on the champions tournament feels a bit diving at the deep pool. But also, Why not? He had a great time here if he wanted it. He loves the golf course. He is playing Senior Open next week in the London area. It felt like the right place for a good golf departure.
“Look, it’s fun,” he said. “You have to be creative and sometimes throw the number out of the window. And simply – you know – I enjoy it.”
He started simple, he ended up simple. It can be so simple.