TIME TO GET ON LEISH

WHEN it comes to promoting marquee Australian players in the build-up to our summer of golf, why is Marc Leishman still not mentioned in the same conversation as Adam Scott and Jason Day?

The Victorian is undoubtedly a favourite to win the Greg Norman Medal in November as the standout Australian golfer of the year. Yet while our organising bodies scrap for appearances from Scott and Day, his name continues to be somewhat of an afterthought. And while that could be accepted in years gone by, that should no longer be the case.

Leishman began the year ranked No.56 in the world and at the time of writing he was No.23 and still rising. He is one of the best ball-strikers on the planet, a crowd-favourite and is well-respected by the very best players on the PGA Tour.

“Marc Leishman will win a major championship in my mind, I lost to a really good champion today,” said Jordan Spieth after losing his singles match to Leishman at the 2015 Presidents Cup.

The 33-year-old has come close to fulfilling Spieth’s prophecy on numerous occasions, but is still yet to break into the major winner’s circle. And that’s where his name seemingly loses value – at least in the eyes of promoters – next to the likes of Scott and Day.

But Warrnambool’s favourite son has been a shining light on the PGA Tour this year, where our two ‘bigger names’ have both struggled. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March – Australia’s only PGA Tour victory for 2017 – and posted a further six top-10 finishes.

The 2009 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year was also our most consistent performer at the majors this year and his inclusion in the field for either the Australian Open or PGA Championships would raise the stocks of that event considerably. – Michael Jones