This time, Leonard hopes for Super ending at FBR Open

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It's Super Bowl weekend in Arizona, so that means Justin Leonard must be in contention at the FBR Open.

Justin Leonard finished second in the 1996 FBR Open. (WireImage)

Inside the Numbers

Justin Leonard so far at the FBR Open

Birdies 14 Pars 36 Bogeys 4 Driving Accuracy 83.3 Driving Distance 295.2 Putts Per Round 30 GIR 81.5

True enough, as Leonard ended Saturday's play at 10-under and on the first page of the leaderboard heading into Sunday's final round.

"it's nice to be back in contention here," he said. "It is Super Bowl Sunday, would love for the outcome to be a little different than last time. Just glad I played a good round to give myself a chance."

The last time the Super Bowl was played in Arizona, back in 1996, Leonard lost a three-hole playoff to Phil Mickelson, who ironically is tied with Leonard heading into Sunday's final round.

Despite the outcome, Leonard said he looks back fondly on that experience.

"I remember birdieing 18, the first playoff hole, and Phil birdied, as well," said Leonard. "And then he made a great, I don't know, 20-footer or something for par on 10.

"I mean, I pretty much remember every shot. The atmosphere out here, like it is pretty much every day, was pretty electric, and to be playing against Phil like that in the last group and then in a playoff was a great experience."

Saturday was a pretty good experience for Leonard, as well. He made four birdies in a five-hole stretch between holes 13 and 17, (he made a par on 16, by the way) and he notched a bogey-free round for the first time this week.

"I played really solid. I could have made a few more putts, but nice finish, shooting 4-under on the back side. It felt good," he said.

"I think this is a golf course where you can shape the ball. You can work it into certain parts of the green," Leonard said. "The greens are fairly small, so if you miss fairways it's sometimes difficult to hit the greens. So for me playing from the fairway most of the time, it gives me maybe a little bit of an edge there."

Leonard appears to have an edge on the entire PGA TOUR, as of late. In three events so far this year, Leonard's worst finish is a tie for eighth at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. The last time he was outside the top 30 was at the Deutsche Bank Championship -- in September.

"After struggling early in the year, I made a few changes and really worked hard at making those changes become more natural," he said. "And really, last summer, it was just a matter of me getting my confidence back in my game and in myself. I was able to do that with some solid play and carry it into the fall and on into this year.

"I'm very comfortable with what I'm doing. I wake up, and I feel like I'm going to go out and shoot a good score. Those are two nice feelings to have."

Another good feeling would be to avenge that playoff loss 11 years ago by hoisting the winner's trophy on Sunday.

"It would mean a lot, regardless of 11 years ago. Any win means a great deal. You know, this one with the energy that there is here and the way that these crowds embrace you, it would be special."