Leonard's meteoric rise to the top of the golf world got one of its biggest lifts when he won the U.S. Amateur in 1992. Twice an All-American at the University of Texas in 1993 and 1994, Leonard made the leap to the PGA without a trip to the notorious Tour Qualifying School. He scored his first victory at the 1996 Buick Open. Then, at the 1997 Open Championship, Leonard had a major breakthrough taking the title with a closing round of 65.