Marc Leishman – file photo
First it was Wade Ormsby in Hong Kong, then Cameron Smith in Hawaii, followed by Lucas Herbert in Dubai and just a few hours later Marc Leishman in San Diego – what a month for Australian golfing stocks with four worldwide wins by leading players.
Leishman today completed an amazing January with a one-shot victory over Jon Rahm at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, securing his 5th PGA Tour title and taking his earnings on the PGA Tour to US$29 million.
Leishman began the final round four shots off the lead of Jon Rahm but with Rahm stumbling out of the blocks when dropping four shots in the first five holes and Leishman producing birdies at five of his first eight holes, the Australian began to emerge as the potential winner.
Others were still in the mix, but Leishman was relentless despite struggling to find fairways. His putting was keeping him in the hunt for the title and although the likes of Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Brandt Snedeker had their chances he managed to birdie the last to provide the cushion he needed to hold off Rahm who played his final six holes in 5 under par to all but catch the winner.
Leishman has a fine record at Torrey Pines, twice finishing runner-up and with a near faultless display on the greens and several gutsy par saves today he proved too good for a field which included the world number one and two.
Leishman should move close to the top twenty when the revised rankings are announced later in the day.
Finishing two shots behind runner-up in a share of 3rd place were Brandt Snedeker and Rory McIlory, yet another course specialist, Snedeker, costing also costing himself victory with three dropped shots in his first four holes today.
Snedeker had won the event twice and had been runner-up on two other occasions.
Jason Day finished as the next best of the Australians when he shared 16th place, an encouraging return to tournament golf after the back issues which forced him from the Presidents Cup team in December.
