“ But that’ s the thing; golf’ s hard, so you never know if it’ s going to happen. I feel like having that good balance with my great wife and kids made it a lot easier.” |
||||
MARC LEISHMAN |
||||
|
VG: You’ re a member at Bayville Golf Club in Virginia Beach, a gorgeous place. Do you get out there much when you’ re home? ML: Not enough. I love Bayville. It’ s quiet. Obviously, the condition of the course is always as good as it gets. It’ s a pretty special place.
VG: Speaking of special, having an all-grass chipping area out your back door is sweet. ML: It’ s nice. I can actually hit up to 70 yards, over the pool in the middle. The house is on the right, so there’ s a little bit of pressure there. If I hit one on the hosel, it’ s going to do some damage.
VG: You’ ve also got an indoor putting area? ML: It’ s a room over the garage that’ s half gym, half putting. If I only want to practice for 30 minutes, I just go there. It’ s really helped. Seeing putts go in, whether I’ m upstairs or on the golf course, builds confidence, and my confidence was pretty high last year. If I left myself three or four feet coming back, I always felt like I was going to make it.
VG: You finished seventh in money at $ 5.8 million, your best year by more than $ 3 million. Does that number stagger you? ML: As a kid, even as a young pro, I didn’ t
|
imagine that ever happening, especially in one year. Tiger Woods really boosted( purses), obviously, and we’ ve got great sponsors. But yeah, it takes your breath away a little bit. It’ s nice to have that as a reward for a really good season, along with the two trophies.
VG: Did you suspect it all was about to come together for you? ML: My game’ s been trending in the right direction, it was just a matter of putting it all together. But that’ s the thing; golf’ s hard, so you never know if it’ s going to happen. I feel like having that good balance with my great wife and kids made it a lot easier.
VG: You went from 100th to 50th( 67 percent) in greens-in-regulation last year. Is that what triggered your consistency? ML: Giving yourself more birdie opportunities helps, but it doesn’ t necessarily come from iron play. I feel like the driver starts that, hitting approach shots from the fairway, and farther up the fairway.( Note: Leishman averaged 295 yards and hit 58 percent of fairways.) Greens in regulation is almost irrelevant if you’ re not close or putting from the right spots. I do feel like my putter was really amazing, especially on the weeks I won.
|
VG: Obviously, winning a major is your next breakthrough goal. Do you think the Open Championship gives you your best shot? You’ ve been top-10 three of the last four, including your playoff loss in 2015. ML: Yeah, that’ s probably the one that’ s looking like it at the moment. I’ ve never played Royal Birkdale( site of the 2018 Open), but I’ m told it’ s the toughest course in the Open rota. Narrow, long rough, wind— they’ re all windy. But that’ s what I grew up on, playing in the wind on firm, fast courses. I don’ t have to think too much on those golf courses, it’ s instinct. That’ s the best way to play.
VG: Your Begin Again Foundation( beginagainfoundation. com) has established an impressive philanthropic presence in only two years. That must bring Audrey and you great satisfaction. ML: It’ s a passion for both of us. Social work actually is what Audrey wanted to do before she fell into this life. Our Celebrity Classic event netted $ 225,000 last year. We’ re making it two days( May 6-7 at Bayville) this year, dinner and an auction on Sunday and golf on Monday. We have actors, footballers, baseballers, golfers, a lot of people from different backgrounds come and support our cause. We hope it’ ll be bigger and better and raise even more money.
|
ASSOCIATED PRESS( 2) |