McLeod in shadows of elite of world golf
JAKE McLeod has literally landed in Mexico as a grey, shadowy unknown for his biggest golf thrill playing in the same field as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
The breakout Queensland star is guaranteed a cool $70,000-plus even if he finishes at the tail of the elite 64-man field. The Mexico Championship is a $14 million shootout for the sport’s finest yet there was not the free thinking to organise a photo of McLeod for the tournament website.
The Hills International College graduate only appears as an anonymous grey cutout between headliners McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.
“I’ll have to get that updated with a new head and shorter hair,” McLeod said because his trademark man-bun was been to the barber shop.
The Order of Merit winner from the PGA Tour of Australasia admits there will be nerves when he tees up tomorrow among the who’s who of golf.
“I get nerves most weeks and there’ll be a few more this time but in a good way,” McLeod, 24, said.
Shooting a hot 65 in the Saudi International earlier this month was a confidence boost.
“There were some legends in that field and it was really good to see I could compete,” McLeod said. It’s not Woods who McLeod finds the coolest figure in golf but Swede Henrik Stenson.
“Henrik was walking into the locker room as I was walking out in Saudi and I just had to get a selfie,” McLeod said a little sheepishly.
“He kinda looked at me, ‘but you’re playing.’ He was happy to do it.”