Hero of Brookline is loving his Ryder Cup return and relishing final day singles

Published on Sunday 21 September 2008 00:05

JUSTIN Leonard, America's Ryder Cup hero at Brookline, will go into today's singles at Valhalla feeling much more relaxed than he did in 1999.

Leonard famously sunk a 45-foot putt nine years ago to complete a last-day comeback from 10-6 down for an unlikely 14.-13 victory for the United States.

Up until Friday, however, Leonard had not managed to record a victory in his two other Ryder Cup appearances in 1997 and 1999. So it is with good reason the Texan, with two and a half points from three matches alongside Hunter Mahan in his Ryder Cup comeback at Valhalla, is looking forward to the singles more than ever.

"I'm having more fun this week than I did in '97 or '99, and maybe that's because I'm playing better," he said. "I think it's because I haven't been here in nine years. Golf is no longer the most important thing in my life. I've got a family, I've got my faith, and I'm enjoying this.

"I felt pressure this week, but not the knee-shaking, heart-stopping pressure that I felt in '97 and '99 when this was the singular, most important thing in my life. That's no longer the case, and I've been able to enjoy this week more because of all that."

Speaking after halving a match alongside Mahan against Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez, Leonard said he was fully confident in the USA's ability to wrestle the Ryder Cup out of Europe's grip in singles play, whatever order the 12 players tee off in.

"We've got 12 guys that are all warriors, and I think every point or half-point is very important," Leonard said. "Every spot is important. I feel like there aren't any bad decisions as far as where to put guys tomorrow."

Regardless of their starting position, the 1997 Open champion is expecting another rollercoaster ride on today.

"There's 12 points available so you can have some huge swings in momentum either way," he added. "It'll be important for the guys, for all of us tonight, to get ready to make that transition to playing singles tomorrow."

Leonard was rested for this afternoon fourball matches as captain Paul Azinger broke up his most successful pairing of the week and sent Mahan out with Phil Mickelson. There were no complaints from Leonard, though.

"I'm not surprised I'm sitting," he said.

"I told Zinger, you know, I felt like I had some more in the tank. I wasn't sure how much. And I think he wants me to be ready for tomorrow.

"I know Phil really wanted to play this afternoon, and Hunter, as well as he's playing, wanted to play. That's his decision, and I'm going to use this rest to my advantage."

&#149 Six British fans captured the Ryder Cup mood perfectly as Europe began day two looking for a spirited comeback against the USA by dressing like British Army survivors of the 19th century Anglo-Zulu War battle at Rorke's Drift. In red military uniform jackets, pith helmets and false handlebar moustaches, Miles Cheetham, Lee Ransom and Graham Rushton from Manchester, Craig Butcher from Worcester, 'Sergeant' Phil Livingston from Jersey and Andy Thompson from Southport were only missing bayonets as they patrolled the first fairway at the start of the day's play.