Memphis victory gives Leonard Open boost for Cup

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Reuters) - American Justin Leonard gave himself a perfect boost for next week's U.S. Open, and the Ryder Cup in September, by winning the St. Jude Championship in a playoff on Sunday.

The 35-year-old, who has not played at the Ryder Cup since holing a 45-foot putt to seal victory for the U.S. at Brookline in 1999, clinched his 12th PGA Tour title at the second extra hole.

After squandering a one-stroke lead with two regulation holes remaining at the TPC Southwind, Leonard edged out Australian Robert Allenby and Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa with a 19-foot birdie putt.

"I knew coming in here the best way for me to prepare is to gain confidence by playing well and do those little things in my practice session that I may need for next week," Leonard told reporters after sealing victory at the par-three 11th.

"I would say in that department, I did a pretty good job. I feel like I've been playing some pretty good golf for the last eight, nine months but you can't always justify changes and good play with results.

"When you can, when you win a golf tournament, you have to really hold on to that feeling and take a lot of satisfaction.

GREAT POSITION

"And this puts me in great position to make the Ryder Cup team," he added, referring to the September 19-21 showdown with Europe in Louisville, Kentucky. "For the last nine years, I've been looking forward to one.

"I don't know how much of a lock I am but I feel pretty good about making it."

Although Leonard won his first major title at the 1997 British Open, he says he gets asked more questions about the monster putt he sank at Brookline to halve his singles match with Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.

"I either hear about the Ryder Cup putt or not my play at the Open Championship but my speech (afterwards)," he added. "Those are the two things I hear most and it's probably 95 percent more about the Ryder Cup."

With Europe having beaten the U.S. at the last three Ryder Cups, Leonard conceded the Americans were hungry to reverse the trend.

"Not that there's been any emphasis lacking in the past but, after you get drummed enough times, it's time to get it turned around," he said. "I look forward to being a part of that."

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)