Marc Leishman has stated repeatedly this week that 2024 has been the perfect yr of his life, however the Victorian additionally ensured a major well being scare.
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Not that he appeared too bothered by it when reflecting on the expertise of being hospitalised on the outskirts of London.
Leishman is enjoying on the Australian PGA Championship – the place he sits two photographs off the lead within the occasion shortened to three-rounds due to flooding at Royal Queensland – this week and he discovered the humorous aspect of getting surprising surgical procedure in July.
The 41-year-old shot a two-under par opening spherical at LIV’s UK occasion earlier than withdrawing with appendicitis, and when he was requested how he dealt with the restoration course of, he responded in laconic vogue.
“It was fairly simple really,” Leishman stated with fun.
“I used to be enjoying two weeks later. Performed at Greenbrier at completed fourth. I don’t know the way.
“Didn’t assume I’d be capable of play.”
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Leishman’s outstanding effort in West Virginia was one in every of his three high 5 finishes for the yr on the LIV Golf circuit.
He had an operation to take away his appendix in the UK earlier than flying again throughout the Atlantic and looking for the recommendation of medical doctors earlier than re-joining his group championship profitable Ripper GC teammates.
“I couldn’t go too exhausting at it as a result of I didn’t need to pop a hernia or something, however so long as I used to be smart about it, they stated, I’d be tremendous in a few weeks. Examined it out and it labored all proper,” Leishman once more stated with fun.
“I believe it offers you a little bit of a brand new perspective. It may have been critical, it wasn’t, however it may have been.”
The well being episode was not the one setback of Leishman’s yr off the course.
His Leishman Lager beer has turn out to be well-known amongst golf followers, however him and enterprise companions made the decision to stop operations in Australia.
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It continues to promote – and Leishman says it’s going nicely – in America however issues didn’t pan out as hoped in his house nation.
“I suppose it simply wasn’t proper the time in Australia for Leishman Lager,” he stated.
“We determined to chop our losses.”
A beer model is just not the one factor that Leishman has determined that he’s not going to chase.
He has not performed in a serious since he missed the reduce at The Open at St Andrews – which was received by greatest mate Cameron Smith – two years in the past as his world rating has plummeted to 914th on the planet since becoming a member of LIV later in 2022.
Leishman tried to qualify for majors by enjoying 36-hole qualifying occasions this yr and enjoying within the Australian Open – which provides a spot at The Open to the highest three not already exempt finishers.
He could have that chance as soon as once more in Melbourne subsequent week, and as for the qualifiers, he’s doubtless to offer them a go when it fits him.
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“I’m not going to go chasing world rating factors,” Leishman stated.
“I’m very comfortable enjoying the quantity of occasions that I’m enjoying. Having the time to arrange for tournaments, the time with the children and having fun with my golf extra.
“I’m not saying I don’t need to be in them (the majors). I do need to be in them, however I’m not going to go chasing them and having that as the one factor I’m apprehensive about.
“I’m actually having fun with my golf a lot now, greater than I ever have, and I need to proceed to try this, and that lends itself to the perfect golf.
“If I can play the majors, nice. If I don’t, I’m nonetheless very comfortable.”