Marc Leishman is back on the major championship stage for the first time since 2022 at the U.S. Open this week, with the Aussie one of 14 LIV Golf players in action
Marc Leishman is back in major action(Image: Getty Images)
Marc Leishman has admitted he has “no regrets” over leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, having made a return to the major championship stage at the U.S. Open this week.
Leishman booked his place in the U.S. Open via Final Qualifying earlier this month to earn a first major start since 2022. Having made the move to the LIV setup, the Australian is one of a number of players who have seen their name tumble down the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
LIV has hosted its tournaments without OWGR points ever since its launch three years ago, meaning Leishman and co. have seen their opportunities in the majors reduced.
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Having prevailed through qualifying, Leishman is taking advantage of the rare opportunity this week, sitting in a tie for 11th at four-over-par through 54 holes at Oakmont.
Speaking in Pennsylvania on Saturday, the former PGA Tour man is seemingly at ease with his lack of major access.
“Well, you never know anything,” he told reporters when asked if he was worried he would never play major golf again. “Life is pretty uncertain at times. Obviously, I want to be here. These are the biggest tests in golf. I knew that was going to be a chance when I signed with LIV.
“I knew that could have been one of the negatives. But the positives so much outweighed the negatives for me. You’ve just got to play good in the qualifiers and hopefully make the most of it. If I have a good day tomorrow, I can hopefully finish in the top 4 and get into all of them next year.
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Marc Leishman joined LIV Golf in 2022
“So yeah, you wonder, of course, if you’re going to get into them again, but there is certainly no regret because, like I said, my life is as good as it’s ever been right now. I’m as happy as I’ve ever been. Of course, I would rather be playing the majors, but I really enjoyed just sitting down with my kids and mates watching the Masters and the PGA.
“I’m a lot happier if people were to be sitting down watching me, but it was a pretty good two weeks for me.”
One man who is also more than aware of what moving to LIV can do to a player’s major status is Tyrrell Hatton. The Englishman is the leading LIV player in the field at Oakmont this week in a tie for sixth.
And there is plenty to play for for Hatton heading into the final round. “I knew at the start of the year and certainly last year when I signed with LIV that the majors were going to be very important for me,” he said.
“But yeah, I’d love to go out there tomorrow and have another day like today and finish off a strong week for World Ranking points, Ryder Cup points, Race to Dubai points.
“At the end of the day, I just have to go out there and try my best, and I can’t really worry about that. I just have to focus on one shot at a time, and that’s what I’ll try and do tomorrow.”
