Leishman to tee off with McIlroy
MARC Leishman will once again have the eyes of the golf world on him when he tees off with European superstar Rory McIlroy for the first two rounds of the British Open.
Australia’s 2015 Open runner-up has become accustomed to being in marquee groupings, having been paired with Tiger Woods for the American’s much-hyped major championship comeback at the Masters in April.
Thriving in the spotlight, Leishman upstaged Woods to jostle for the lead during the first 36 holes at Augusta National.
The Victorian is again certain to have a big following when he and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen hit the fairways with McIlroy — the 2014 champion and former world No.1 — soon after 9pm tomorrow (AEST).
With three top-six finishes in his past four Open appearances, Leishman looms as one of Australia’s best chances to end the country’s 25-year wait for another champion.
Open debutant Cameron Davis will be the first of the eight Australians hitting off in the first round.
The 23-year-old Australian Open winner goes out at 8.36pm with American Brandt Snedeker and Scottish amateur Sam Locke.
Leishman is next off, followed two groups later by 2012 runner-up Adam Scott with Zach Johnson — who denied Leishman in a fourhole playoff at St Andrews three years ago — and fellow American Brendan Steele.
Australian No.1 Jason Day tees off at 10.37pm with exciting young Chinese Li Haotong and Japan’s Shota Akiyoshi.
Fellow US PGA Tour star Cameron Smith also has an later start, paired with US Open champion Brooks Koepka and Englishman Ian Poulter.
Matt Jones and Brett Rumford are in the last and second-last groups respectively and will not start their first rounds until after 1am Friday.