Leishman tees up Smith

AUSTRALIA will boast the top-ranked player at the $9.7 million World Cup of Golf when Marc Leishman tees up at Melbourne’s Metropolitan flanked by confirmed teammate Cameron Smith.

World No.22 Leishman will headline the November 22-25 event which features two-man teams from the top 28 available nations on the world rankings.

Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter is also expected to be a drawcard as he is set to be picked as a teammate by England’s Tyrrell Hatton.

Yesterday, Leishman became Australia’s eligible frontrunner when world No.11 Jason Day deferred selection as wife Ellie is due to give birth to the couple’s third child days before the World Cup.

Three-time US PGA Tour winner Leishman confirmed he would select world No.33 Smith — the next best Australian on the rankings — instead of No.41 Adam Scott.

“I’m really excited to take Cam, he’s going to bring a lot of enthusiasm because it’s his debut for an Australian team as a professional golfer,” he said.

“It was a really hard phone call to Scotty; he’s a close mate … but Cam has been playing too well not to pick him.

“Cam loves team sports and I know he’ll step up once we’re playing for Australia.”

Smith has been in fine form during the $US67 million FedEx Cup playoffs on the US Tour, including third-place finishes at the first two finals events. He will arrive at next week’s Tour Championship finale as the top-ranked Australian on the FedEx standings, in 10th place, ahead of Day (12th) and Leishman (29th).