Leishman signs up for Aussie PGA
MARC Leishman has become the first big- name golfer to commit to play the 2018 Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.
Leishman says he has a burning desire to claim one of Australia’s big tournament titles, something that has eluded him despite the overseas success that has taken him to the world No. 16 ranking.
A late addition to the field last year, the three- time US tour winner returns to the European tour co- sanctioned tournament at Royal Pines to be held from November 29- December 2.
The former British Open runner- up finished tied fourth behind fellow US PGA tour star Cameron Smith last year and says a big title on Australian soil is “definitely” a glaring omission from his CV.
“I feel like I’ve done enough stuff around the world and it’s frustrating not having won one,” Leishman said in a teleconference yesterday.
“Growing up watching those events as a kid, seeing all my idols win those events, yeah, I haven’t really even contended to be honest in any of them.
“So that’s something I would definitely like to change this year. Especially it would be nice to have a good lead- up to the PGA and try and really have a good shot at it.”
The 34- year- old vowed to treat the Australian PGA like a major championship.
“I feel like I’ve maybe got a bit impatient at the Australian events in past years,” Leishman said.
“I just need to stay in it and almost treat it like a major.”
The PGA Championship will complete a bumper three- week program of golf this summer, with the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney held from November 15- 18 before Leishman contests the World Cup of Golf at The Metropolitan in Melbourne from November 21- 25.
Leishman, a US- based father of three, is yet to commit to his national championship.