Marc Leishman survived a brutal check in howling winds to win his first skilled occasion in Australia since 2008 after an exhilarating climax to the Victorian PGA Championship on Sunday.
Essentially the most adorned participant within the discipline, who was enticed to play within the occasion because of a Professional-Am hyperlink up with 13-year-old son Harvey, was largely anticipated to win the $250,000 occasion after taking a one-shot lead into the ultimate spherical at Moonah Hyperlinks.
However with gale pressure winds actually blowing the hats off golfers and propelling drives 400 metres downwind, Leishman emerged finest from the conflict of attrition with a birdie on the final sealing the win.
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Leishman (-5) coughed up his in a single day lead inside one gap after nice mate Josh Youthful (-4) made birdie on the primary gap and he by no means held it outright once more till a luxurious up-and-down on the par-five nearer edged him to victory.
Remarkably, Leishman posted a four-over 76 within the treacherous ultimate spherical situations as solely two gamers – Jimmy Zheng (71) and American Chris Malec (70) – managed to shoot underneath par on Sunday.
There was drama proper till the final putt as Leishman stepped off his profitable putt – a close to tap-in from lower than two ft – because the winds buffeted the 42-year-old. He shared a hug with dad Paul, who caddied for him on the weekend, as soon as it sunk.
“It appears like I’ve been taking part in properly all 12 months, significantly these final three weeks in Australia,” Leishman mentioned. “I simply didn’t actually have a complete lot to indicate for it. Now, I’ve had a win right here.
“It was a brutally powerful day. You hope you possibly can shoot higher than (76), however I used to be hitting full-blooded seven-irons from 100 metres (into the wind) and barely getting there and eight irons from 205 metres (downwind). It was good. You’ve simply acquired to remain in it on days like that.
“I performed the PGA Tour for a very long time, however I’m actually, actually loving my time on LIV, significantly for this with the ability to play the WA Open and now the Vic PGA … I’d by no means had an opportunity to do this. It’s good to get a win on Australian soil once more.”
Leishman was barely off his recreation when he dropped 4 pictures within the area of 5 holes on his entrance 9, however his cool head prevailed down the stretch as he reeled in a resolute Youthful and fought off Andrew Campbell (-3), who completed in a tie for third with Zheng, Connor McDade and Adam Bland.
Youthful, who has solely performed restricted golf in latest months after turning into a father for a second time, additionally carded a ultimate day 76 as he got here near profitable his first PGA Tour of Australasia occasion for the reason that 2019 NSW Open.
“I’ve been greats mates with Josh for a very long time,” Leishman mentioned. “I used to be type of pulling for him on the finish to be sincere.
“It was good to have a brief one like that (to win) and the putts have been shifting quite a bit within the wind so I needed to be cautious with that one. I didn’t need to take any as a right.”