But Leonard sees now that his singular focus was too narrow. “Early in my career, as most young people are, I was very wrapped up in myself and my game,” he explains.

In 2000, Leonard met Amanda, the woman he would date for a year, leading to six months of engagement and then marriage. It was Amanda who worked to broaden Leonard’s perspective.

“When we were dating, we would go to church and talk about things a little bit,” he recalls, “but it really wasn’t until a month or so after we were married that we were at a Bible study—actually, my first Tour Bible study at Hilton Head in 2002. Everything started to click.”

The Tour’s studies are led by Larry Moody and Dave Krueger, men who serve with Search Ministries. Moody has been the Tour’s chaplain since the mid-1980s, and hundreds of players have heard the man’s words. Though patient and well-reasoned, Moody is unafraid to challenge a player with the essentials.

“He asked if I had accepted Christ into my life and turned my life over to Him, and I said no I hadn’t, but I would like to,” Leonard says of their early conversations. “That was kind of the beginning of my journey. And thanks to help from people like Larry and my wife Amanda and my Christian brothers out here on Tour, I’m trying the best I can to walk the walk.”

That sounds simple now, nearly six years later, but Leonard had to realize first that he was not in control. He says: “I don’t know if it’s the game or just my own personality, but turning over control is not something that has come easy to me. I’ve learned more and more over the last five years that I can only do so much.”

And this too is a process. But Leonard is pleased with the results.

“It changes my golf in that I know that when I’m going through a valley, like I did in 2006 and early 2007, there is a reason I’m there. It’s shaping my character and making me stronger. Although it’s hard to do, I thank God for those times.

“I always remind myself that I am right where I am supposed to be, even though I may not always like the place where I am. I don’t mean a specific location, I just mean at a place in my life—that I’m always right where I’m supposed to be.”

That perspective is aided by one of Scripture’s most powerful promises, found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” It is a favorite passage for Leonard, one he goes back to “quite often.” But Leonard has been working on this part of the process too, reading the Bible more widely and more regularly, at the encouragement of Tour cohort Ben Crane.

“Getting in the Word everyday is difficult, but it’s that time that I need to focus on God and just for me personally to discover all of the reasons we’re here and become closer to Him,” Leonard says.

$258? Sinful pricing!

JL wears the cross bracelet by me&ro. I bought the black leather one but they are pricey at $235 a pop!