Leishman zeroing in on golfing’s top 10
WARRNAMBOOL’S Marc Leishman has his sights set on zooming into the world top 10 when he tees off at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii after a classy performance on Maui.
The 34-year-old Australian, now at a career-high ranking of 12, led last week’s Tournament of Champions through 36 holes and, despite shooting himself out of the event at Kapalua with a horror third round, salvaged a tie for seventh with a solid finish.
With a win, a second and two top 10s in his past six worldwide starts, PGA Tour pundits have installed Leishman as one of the favourites at this week’s Honolulu tournament, alongside world No.2 Jordan Spieth and defending champion Justin Thomas.
Leishman has surpassed former world No.1 Jason Day (now No.13) as Australia’s topranked golfer and a hot finish at Waialae Country Club could help Leishman break into the world’s top 10 for the first time.
“It’s definitely in sight, so hopefully I can have a good finish at the Sony Open, fly into the top 10 and stay there for years to come. It’s a big goal for me in 2018,” Leishman said.
Leishman has contended regularly at Waialae, with five top-five finishes and two top 10s from eight starts, including a fifth place in 2014.
But the Victorian feels ready to go one better and bag his fourth career PGA Tour victory.
“That’s why we’re going there (to win) ... the weather forecast looks good and it’s always a good week. I really enjoy the course and I read the greens really well,” Leishman said.
Fellow Australian Cameron Smith joins Leishman in the Sony Open field after also displaying good form at the Tournament of Champions.
Other Australians in the field are Aaron Baddeley, Matt Jones, Greg Chalmers and Steve Allan, who snared entry at the qualifying event played on Monday.