Marc Leishman‘s bunker shot splashed out of the sand, took 4 fast bounces and rolled straight into the outlet for birdie on the lengthy, par-3 eighth gap at Oakmont.
All of the sudden, a reputation that was as soon as no stranger to leaderboards at majors was up there as soon as once more. Not unhealthy for a participant who had each motive to surprise if he’d ever get one other probability to play in a single, not to mention contend.
The 41-year-old Australian, whose departure to LIV Golf three years in the past generated few headlines however modified his life utterly, shot 2-under 68 on the U.S. Open on Saturday. He made 5 birdies over his first 12 holes to briefly get on the leaderboard earlier than leaving the course six photographs off the lead.
“I have been taking part in a number of the finest golf of my profession this yr,” stated Leishman, who’s coming off his first LIV win, at Doral in April, then earned certainly one of 4 spots at a U.S. Open qualifier in Maryland this month. “The schedule type of lends itself to have the ability to work in your sport between tournaments, and I used to be actually in a position to put together for this event.”
That is Leishman’s first main because the 2022 British Open. He’s already exempt for this yr’s British Open primarily based on a third-place end on the Australian Open in December.
His transfer to LIV, the place tournaments don’t qualify for factors on this planet rating that assist determine giant chunks of the sphere in main occasions, left the six-time winner on the PGA Tour in limbo when it got here to ever taking part in in golf’s largest occasions once more.
“You surprise, in fact, in the event you’re ever going to get in,” Leishman stated. “However there was definitely no remorse. My life is nearly as good as I’ve ever been proper now.”
The $24.8 million Leishman has gained since heading to LIV, to say nothing of the lowered schedule and the 54-hole tournaments, assist clarify that.
What went lacking have been the all-but-automatic spots in golf’s largest tournaments that go to the PGA Tour’s high performers. Leishman performed in 39 of 41 majors between 2012-22. For a time, he had a knack for getting within the combine.
His three top-10s on the British Open within the 2010s included a three-way tie for the lead after 72 holes in 2015, earlier than shedding in a playoff ultimately captured by Zach Johnson. The Aussie performed within the second-to-last group on Sunday on the 2013 Masters (with fellow Aussie and eventual winner Adam Scott).
“I like powerful programs,” Leishman stated. “I like programs that separate the sphere, when it actually punishes unhealthy photographs and rewards good photographs.”
He had his share of each on Saturday. Good: the bunker shot on 8, and a 300-yard fairway wooden on the par-5 twelfth that arrange birdie and obtained him to 2-over par. Unhealthy: Three straight bogeys on 14-16, although he got here again with a birdie on the drivable par-4 seventeenth and par on No. 18.
Leishman left the course tied for fifteenth, six photographs out of first, with the leaders nonetheless early of their rounds Saturday.
He is effectively conscious {that a} top-four end right here would add the Masters to his 2026 schedule. Both approach, he’s at peace with the alternatives he made, and the place that left him — which on this case is with a late beginning time within the remaining spherical of a significant once more.
“I actually loved sitting down with my children and my mates watching the Masters and the PGA,” Leishman stated of the yr’s first two majors. “I would be extra pleased if individuals have been sitting down watching me.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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