A bodily fitter and a mentally stronger Marc Leishman is decided to disprove one among golf’s most controversial narratives when he breaks a close to three-year lengthy main drought this week.
Final Tuesday, the 41-year-old Victorian booked his place on the upcoming US Open at Oakmont by surviving a dramatic three-player playoff for 2 spots at a gruelling 36-hole Monday qualifying at Woodmount Nation Membership in Maryland.
Leishman performed a further two holes ultimately as he struck a pearler of a tee shot to roughly four-feet on the par 3, second playoff gap and sensibly two putted to ensure an earlier-than-anticipated return to the most important championships in entrance roughly 100 individuals gathered across the inexperienced.
Watch each spherical of the 2025 US Open LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS, accessible on Kayo. | New to Kayo? Get your first month for simply $1. Restricted time supply.
The LIV Golfer has been one of many many victims of the Saudi-backed breakaway tour’s lack of ability to safe Official World Golf Rating factors, which have price a number of defectors their place within the largest 4 occasions of the yr.
Leishman final teed it up in a serious on the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews, the place he missed the minimize earlier than shut pal and Ripper GC teammate Cameron Smith lifted the Claret Jug.
Previous to that, Leishman had not missed a serious for the reason that 2015 Masters, the identical yr he heartbreakingly misplaced a three-way four-hole combination playoff to Zach Johnson at St Andrews.
He booked his main return in Melbourne late final yr with a tied third end within the Australian Open at Kingston Heath handing him one of many three qualifying spots up for grabs at this yr’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
READ MORE
‘FREAK ACCIDENT’: Day’s shock damage reveal as Aussie US Open bid receives double enhance
‘ICE IN HIS VEINS’: Kiwi floodgates open as shot ‘of a lifetime’ swings PGA playoff marathon
So, including the US Open to his schedule, the place he’ll be part of fellow Australians Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott and Cam Davis within the area, was a welcome shock.
Even when it happened in lower than best circumstances.
“It’s an expertise I’d most likely moderately not need to take care of. 38 holes in a day isn’t the simplest however simply comfortable for it to be worthwhile,” Leishman instructed Australian media on Thursday.
He added: “It’s been some time however I’ve undoubtedly been taking part in a number of golf on the LIV tour and at residence. I’m actually having fun with taking part in socially at residence truly.
“It’s going to be an excellent six weeks of golf. Actually excited to be taking part in a few massive occasions after I’m in fairly good kind.”
Leishman having fun with social rounds at hand-crafted headlines in February as he someway didn’t win the day by day competitors at his residence observe of Warrnambool Golf Membership in south-west Victoria regardless of matching his personal course document of an 11-under par 61.
Whereas residence after LIV’s Adelaide occasion, Leishman had tallied 42 stableford factors, taking part in off a handicap of +5, however an area 12-handicapper bettered him by a degree.
The social rounds converse to Leishman’s relaxed perspective in the direction of dropping world rankings factors whereas on the LIV tour hitherto.
Throughout final Australian summer time, Leishman spoke of his intention to not go chasing rankings factors on the Asian Tour or the DP World Tour like a few of his LIV colleagues have accomplished.
He appeared content material with the freedoms afforded to him by life on LIV with a mantra of what’s going to be, shall be when it got here to incomes main berths.
That’s comprehensible when you think about the prize cash he has gained since leaving the PGA Tour.
Leishman has pocketed a staggering US$24.8 million (A$38.2m) on the breakaway circuit in spite of everything, the fifteenth most of any LIV participant, together with US$4 million (A$6.16m) for his particular person title in Miami and a share of the US$14 million (A$21.57m) the all-Australian Ripper GC collected for successful the crew championship final yr.
However a ardour to be among the many finest on the earth has nonetheless lingered — and now Leishman has the prospect to place himself to the take a look at as soon as extra in opposition to the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
“Profitable individuals, they have already got the cash within the again and so they simply need to achieve success. They need to take a look at themselves,” Leishman stated.
“I need to take a look at myself in opposition to the most effective gamers. We do this on the LIV occasions. Sure, there aren’t any cuts and all that. However when you get into the event and it’s I win otherwise you win, you’re not even fascinated about all that stuff.
“You need to get your self into that stress cooker and take a look at your self beneath probably the most immense stress and see in case you can deal with it. That’s why I do it.”
Leishman has talked about a number of occasions prior to now yr about how he’s fitter than ever, and has dropped weight.
It’s little marvel he stated, “I really feel like my sport might be pretty much as good because it’s ever been. My mindset is pretty much as good because it’s ever been” off the again of his health marketing campaign.
The transformation helped the cult hero, who has lengthy been adored for his love of lagers and lawns, to a breakthrough LIV victory in Miami earlier this yr, and the change in himself was evident once more at Woodmount.
This was the second successive yr that Leishman has fronted as much as the distinguished, personal course chasing a spot within the US Open area, however this time round he was a special beast.
“Final yr I type of broke down after about 27 holes,” Leishman stated.
“Somewhat further coaching this yr to prepare for a qualifier is one thing that’s new to me however comfortable to get by way of.
“Hopefully I can end prime 4 in both this one or the British Open and never need to qualify subsequent yr.”
Now that he’s again the place he belongs, Leishman is decided to close down chatter about LIV gamers not being prepared for the majors, which has bubbled away as McIlroy and Scheffler claimed well-known victories at The Masters and the PGA Championship.
Whereas LIV’s poster boy Bryson DeChambeau has been within the hunt within the last spherical of each majors this yr, and Jon Rahm jumped again up the sharp finish of the leaderboard at Quail Hole, there have been massive failings among the many LIV contingent.
None extra so than Leishman’s nice mate Smith, who missed the minimize at Augusta for the primary time, in addition to the PGA to not see the weekend at a serious for the third straight time.
Having to struggle by way of qualifiers may very well be a window into Smith’s future if he doesn’t flip his kind round earlier than his five-year main champion’s exemption expires.
The struggles of the likes of former world No.1 Dustin Johnson and five-time main Brooks Koepka, who missed the minimize at The Masters and Quail Hole as a part of the worst two yr stretch within the majors of his profession, has additionally given ammunition to LIV’s detractors.
None louder than Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, who’s adamant that their 54-hole, 14 occasion schedule will not be ample to make gamers sharp sufficient for the final word take a look at that’s main.
Leishman believes that may be a load of nonsense, saying the quieter schedule permits gamers to flee the PGA Tour grind and be extra focused within the lead as much as main tournaments.
“We’re taking part in in opposition to nice fields each single week on powerful golf programs. Sure, it’s 54 holes but it surely places a little bit of stress on that first spherical to get off to an excellent begin as a result of they’re somewhat extra of a dash,” he stated.
“We’re nonetheless taking part in a number of golf away from tournaments. Having fun with golf extra and I believe when you’re having fun with your golf, and it’s not a lot of a grind, that lends itself to raised play.
“I ready for the qualifier, which I usually wouldn’t have been capable of, I’d be getting ready for different tournaments.
“I’ve clearly bought a event this week that it’s clearly not a US Open course however the greens are going to be extraordinarily fast, hilly. I believe it’s going to be actually good preparation for subsequent week at Oakmont.
“I’m pleased with the best way the schedule is and the best way you’ll be able to lead into majors.
“I most likely disagree with Brandel Chamblee, so much.”
To dispel that narrative, Leishman may even have to beat his personal historical past on the US Open.
Whereas he boasts two top-fives apiece at The Masters and The Open, the US Open and the PGA Championship haven’t been comfortable looking grounds for the Olympian and former Presidents Cup participant.
His finest ever end on the US Open got here the final time he performed it, with a tied 14th end at The Nation Membership in Brookline, Massachusetts.
A constructive for Leishman is that he’s subsequent finest consequence got here the final time the event was held at Oakmont in 2016.
He completed tied 18th, his solely different prime 20 within the occasion, and he spoke actually about how the US Open, with its infamously thick tough, has been tough on him.
DJ hits majestic photographs at Oakmont 2016 | 05:42
“I by no means actually loved the psychological take a look at of it to be sincere. I loved being there however how mentally draining it’s, I by no means actually loved that,” Leishman stated.
“I believe the older I’ve gotten the extra I’ve embraced that and loved it.
“In Brookline just a few years in the past, I had a very good end, for me at the very least. They haven’t actually been my forte.
“However the best way my sport’s developed over time, I’m driving the ball higher than ever. I’ve step by step improved, significantly since about 2015 it’s bought so much higher and that lends itself to good play within the US Open.
“I believe it helps hitting fairways. From what I’ve seen at Oakmont, in case you’re within the tough you’re going to be hurting your wrists.”
Leishman has additionally turn into extra accustom with the course at Oakmont lately.
He stated he performed a number of rounds of golf there as a part of his time away from LIV commitments two years in the past, and he struck a powerful rapport with not simply the course, however the membership itself.
Leishman has usually succeeded on the British Hyperlinks because of the sturdy winds coming off the ocean reminding him of taking part in as a teen in Warrnambool.
However subsequent week his thoughts shall be drawn residence for the best way Oakmont is off the course.
“I really like the texture of the place. At a US Open clearly it’s individuals in every single place however the really feel of that golf course, it’s very working class. It jogs my memory a number of residence,” Leishman stated.
“The members, they appear like actually good individuals. I really feel like I slot in there. The golf course is unbelievable. I really like how hilly the greens are, how briskly the greens are.
“I really feel like if I can have an excellent week with my driver, and I’ve been driving it effectively, I can actually let my iron play do its factor, and put myself in locations the place I can truly make putts. Since you could be hitting good photographs into these greens and in case you’re leaving your self downhillers, you’ve bought no probability.”