Leonard Notches First Win at the 2025 Chubb Classic
By: Beverly Wise
Photos: Beverly and Greg Wise
NAPLES, Fla. — Justin Leonard claimed his first PGA Tour Champions win at the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO after a strong back-nine on tough, Tiburon’s Black Course.
Leonard birdied five of the last seven holes to finish with a 4-under 68, winning by four strokes over Billy Andrade. The 52-year-old Texan secured his first victory in 45 starts on the senior tour, his first win since his 2008 PGA Tour title at the St. Jude Championship.
Imagine, winning the U.S. Amateur, the NCAA Individual Championship, a U.S. Open Champion, The Players Championship, and 10 additional PGA Tours wins… and now… you are now a PGA Tour Champions winner.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve won, and I tell myself all the time that I have won,” Leonard said, fighting back tears on the 18th green. “But it’s easy to kind of forget a little bit, and say, `Well, you know, is it going to be?”
“I just put a lot of work in. … I mean, last year was so bad it was good. It was good for me. Made some changes with my golf swing. … It’s just so fun to finally be here because I always felt like I would be. But it’s nice to finally get it done.”
After a bogey on the 10th, Leonard made a crucial par on the 11th and birdied the next three holes. He saved par on the 16th, sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th, and finished with another birdie after getting out of a greenside bunker on the 18th.
“I just kept telling myself that I was still in it,” Leonard said. “I felt like my best golf was ahead of me. I played OK the first 10 holes. Eleven, the end of it was good, but it just wasn’t my best golf. I kept telling myself to just own the last seven holes. Once I got a little bit of momentum, I felt like I could ride it.”
Leonard completed the tournament with a score of 15-under 201. He recorded a round of 65 on Saturday, securing a one-stroke lead and positioning himself for a significant victory upon his return to competitive golf following an extended period as a television analyst… or as John Cook, NBC Sports mentioned… his stint with the Dark Side.
“I didn’t think about anything in particular today, but just knowing I’ve been there,” Leonard said. “Even though it might have been 10, 20, 30 years ago, I’ve been able to do it before.”
Billy Andrade also shot 68 during the final round to finish runner up, four shots back on Leonard. Darren Clarke had the lead, but down the stretch of the final full hole, lost his momentum and finished 3rd at 10-under despite firing a 68 on Sunday.
Fred Couples, clearly the fan favorite all week, had a 66 to tie for fourth at 9 under with Richard Green (68), Heath Slocum (70) and Paul Stankowski (71).
Ernie Els, in the final group on Sunday, one stroke behind Leonard struggled with the putter all day, finishing with a 75 to finish 11th at 7 under.
Tiburon Golf Club is clearly the leader in Professional Golf events anywhere in the world. Image 3 major PGA and LPGA Events held here in Naples over a given year. Just a quick trip through Shark Alley explains.
Greg and Beverly Wise have been traveling the world, playing and writing about their golf experiences as “Golf the Wise Way,” and submitting to numerous publications.
Greg has played golf for more than 60 years and truly believes that “a picture is worth a thousand words…” so, Beverly and Greg both excel in getting the right photos to enhance their stories.
