The Loop

Justin Leonard admits he's been a slacker recently, but that's all about to change

January 16, 2015

HONOLULU -- Justin Leonard has been a slacker. If this is news to you, don't feel bad. It also was news to Justin Leonard. A former British Open champion and Ryder Cup hero, Leonard, at 42, has reached that inescapable crossroads in any athlete's career - where he can simply fade away or reinvest in himself to wring the remaining ounces of exceptional ability from his sinew. The feisty Texan has chosen Option B. First, however, he had to realize that he was, inadvertently, embracing Option A. Julie Elion, a sports psychologist based in Washington, DC, who works with a number of golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Gary Woodland, delivered that virtual uppercut to the chin. Leonard started having conversations with Elion in September, after being eliminated from the opening FedExCup playoff event, The Barclays.

/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/07/20/55ad7b9ab01eefe207f70698_blogs-the-loop-453965100-560.jpg