Daily Mail

True fairytale for Leishman

- derek.lawrenson@dailymail.co.uk

AUSTRALIAN Marc Leishman might not have been everybody’s idea of a dream winner of such an emotional edition of the Arnold Palmer Invitation­al but he certainly completed his own personal fairytale on Sunday. Just under two years ago the 33-year-old underwent a nightmare no one should have to endure. Returning home from Augusta to a wife he thought was suffering from flu, he discovered she had been rushed to hospital suffering from toxic-shock syndrome, was in a coma, and had been given just a five per cent chance of survival. ‘I was the father of two young boys and

yes, I did wonder how I would be able to cope,’ he confessed. Happily, his wife Audrey came out of the coma and managed to overcome those grotesque odds. Six months ago she was finally given the all-clear by a doctor specialisi­ng in infectious diseases. On Sunday at Bay Hill, Leishman completed a stirring finish over the final three holes by sinking a nerveracki­ng three-foot putt on the last. His two boys had been badgering him as to why he hadn’t won trophies like Jason Day and, well, here was his answer. And by the side of the green was Audrey, positively radiant and visibly pregnant with their third child. Yes, a fairytale ending at Arnie’s place, and no mistake.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Family time: the Leishmans celebrate
GETTY IMAGES Family time: the Leishmans celebrate

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