Leonard's comeback at Hope Classic leaves him thinking green

Justin Leonard knows what the previous two Bob Hope Chrysler Classic champions went on to accomplish, although he isn't phoning in his coat size to Augusta just yet.

Leonard came from three shots back to pass faltering front-runner Joe Ogilvie on the third hole Sunday at the PGA West's Palmer Course in La Quinta, Calif., on his way to a 5-under 67 and three-shot victory over Ogilvie and Tim Clark.

Last year's champion, Phil Mickelson used the Hope as an early springboard to win the Masters, his first major title. Mike Weir, the 2003 Hope winner, went on to don the green jacket at Augusta that year.

"I would say it's just coincidence, but look at the two guys who won this tournament the previous two years," Leonard said. "Two pretty good players that probably set up pretty well for Augusta.

"I love playing Augusta. I'm looking very much forward to it."

He smiled and added, "I certainly hope to keep that streak alive. I may write that in my yardage book to give me a little boost of confidence."

Leonard, the 1997 British Open champion, ended a winless string that stretched back almost two years.

"I enjoy taking pressure off myself, because I'm usually a little more relaxed and have a little more fun," he said. "It will inspire me a bit, knowing that one is not enough.

"I've been sitting on eight (career) wins for almost two years, and it's nice to get a ninth."

Leonard finished the 90-hole tournament at 28-under 332.

Ogilvie, winless in his six years on the tour, had a closing 73. Clark, who won the South African Open in his native country a week earlier, shot 69.

Champions Tour

Hale Irwin became the first player to win a men's professional tour event five straight times, easily holding off Dana Quigley by five strokes in the Champions Tour's Turtle Bay Championship in Kahuku, Hawaii.

The 59-year-old Irwin closed with a 5-under 67 for a record 16-under 200 total.

With his fourth straight win at Turtle Bay and sixth overall title in the event, Irwin pushed his tour-record victory total to 41.

He had shared the mark of four straight victories in an event with Tiger Woods (Bay Hill Invitational, 2000-03), Gene Sarazen (Miami Open, 1926, 1928-30), Walter Hagen (PGA Championship, 1924-27) and Tom Morris Jr. (British Open, 1868-70, 1872).

Irwin earned $225,000.

Quigley, the MasterCard winner last week, shot a 69.

Caltex Masters

England's Nick Dougherty won his first PGA European Tour title, shooting a 5-under 67 for a five-stroke victory in the Caltex Masters in Singapore.