Justin Leonard is one of three golfers off to a hot start on the PGA Tour Champions this week.
The Dominion Energy Classic is the first of three postseason events in the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs and Leonard, who went bogey-free to open his week, is crediting a recent putter change.
“It’s the Callaway Jailbird Mini,” he said. “So it’s funny, I watched a little bit of the Ryder Cup and every time I saw somebody make a putt, which was mostly Europeans, they were using mallets. So I thought, you know what, I’ve got three weeks off. I was struggling thinking if somebody still putted with a putter like mine. Obviously there are a few, like my old one, but I got one ordered and it’s been fun.
“It’s given me something to like tinker around with these last three weeks. Nice to get off to a good start with it today.”
Leonard is tied for the 18-hole lead at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond alongside Ernie Els, who turned 56 on Friday, and Steve Allan.
Leonard has one PGA Tour Champions win and two seconds in 58 starts. He entered the postseason 17th in the points standings but is up to 10th in the projected standings with two rounds to go this weekend.
Leonard’s win came back in February. Lately, he’s really been on a roll, posting finishes of T-2, T-7, T-11 and T-5 in his last four starts.
“You know, just continue to work, try and get a little better each day. I don’t think there’s any magic recipe,” he said. “I think playing the way I did today, if I do that often enough, I’ll get that second win soon.”
