Family keeps high-flying golfer grounded

THE Leishman family was in some sort of form last week.

As new world No.15, Aussie golfer Marc, was decimating an elite field on his way to winning $1.8 million at the BMW Championship in Illinois, his dad Paul was putting his name up in lights in Warrnambool, again.

Paul is a long-time member of the Warrnambool Golf Club, where young Marc won a club championship aged 13.

Last week, Leishman Sr, a former club champion himself at the ’Bool, won two nearest to the pin awards in the midweek comp.

Meanwhile, son Marc is within reach of a $12 million payday at this weekend’s US PGA Tour Championship. It’s the final event of the US PGA Tour’s playoffs with $14 million on offer — that’s $2 million for winning the event, and another $12 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup.

Leishman, 33, could finish as low as third this weekend and, pending other results, still claim the huge bonus prize.

It’s a long way from working the graveyard shift at a Melbourne metal works as a teenager to try to earn some money to play golf. With career earnings of more than $23 million, and in the best form of his life, Leishman won’t ever have to get back on the tools. He’s set for life, and not just financially.

He spends loads of time with his wife Audrey and their three kids, including twomonth old daughter, Eva, and says having a good family life is “key”.