FORMER TEAM USA Ryder Cup star Justin Leonard is wrecking greens again. The 41-year-old recorded what excitable American commentators referred to as a ‘slam dunk eagle’ at The Players championship at Sawgrass today.
The Texan, who won The Open back in 1997 and sparked carnage at the 1999 Ryder Cup by sinking the almost winning putt against Jose Maria Olazabal, dropped in a beautiful iron approach on the first hole of his opening round. His shot whammed straight in and destroyed the hole in the process.
Play was held up for 10 minutes as officials ladled out a new hole on the first green.
Leonard’s 2-under start put him on track for a low-scoring start to proceedings at TPC. Fellow American Russell Henley currently leads the way on 7-under after firing nine birdies and a double bogey in a round of 65.
Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood are tied for second on 5-under while Graeme McDowell is two shots further back. The Portrush native recorded five birdies and two bogeys, on 14 and 15. Rory McIlroy is on 2-under after sinking four birdies on his way home.
PS: This is what Leonard and the US team got up to at Brookline in 1999.
