He's worn that sucker out. The last time he was in, just after he won the British Open, he pruned a few leaves off of that tree. Shot after shot from here. The fervor in Smith's voice rivals the intensity of the late-summer sun. He bounds to the opposite side of the practice area and shows where Leonard follows the contour of the tree-line to incorporate a slight hook into his game.
Every shot has a purpose.
Smith has forged a reputation that stands separate from Leonard's fame. He was named National Club Pro of the Year by the PGA for 1996. He has made a golf video with tour professional D.A. Weibring, who, like Leonard, is a member of Royal Oaks. On fall afternoons, Smith can often be seen on the Texas Tech sideline, cheering for his alma mater as he wears a headset given him by Red Raiders coach Spike Dykes, a close friend. It has been a successful career.