Leishman Masters the Monster at LIV Miami
Aussie veteran Marc Leishman triumphs in brutal conditions, leading Ripper GC to historic double
Augusta, Georgia - When Ripper GC captain Marc Leishman and his all-Australian squad braved January’s chilly winds and mist at Trump National Doral’s infamous Blue Monster, little did they know they were laying the foundations for a momentous weekend in LIV Golf Miami.
Leishman, a genial veteran who had flirted closely with victory so often, finally broke through on Sunday, capturing his first individual LIV Golf title. His 5-under-par 67, the only bogey-free round all week, was enough to edge out Stinger GC’s Charl Schwartzel by a single stroke. Sergio Garcia, captain of Fireballs GC, claimed solo third, just two shots adrift after stumbling on the notorious 18th.
“It kicked our butts when we were here in January for the training camp, and it did the same again this week,” Leishman admitted with a wry smile. “I guess it kicked our butt less than everyone else.”
Indeed, Ripper GC’s cumulative 4-over total marks the first-ever LIV team win with an over-par score, highlighting the harshest conditions in LIV history—conditions that felled even big names like Bryson DeChambeau, who spectacularly unravelled around the turn.
Leishman's triumph ends a frustrating drought stretching four long years, a run that saw him come tantalisingly close yet repeatedly fall just short. Team-mate and close friend Cameron Smith spoke of Leishman's resilience, noting: “He’s knocked on so many doors, and at times has felt probably unlucky. Even as a mate, I’ve felt like he’s been unlucky.”
After struggling badly in Singapore just a month earlier—finishing tied 51st, his worst LIV showing—Leishman channelled that disappointment into motivation. He played patiently, methodically picking apart a course that offered trouble at every corner. His crucial birdie at the 10th gave him breathing space, and despite finding trouble at the treacherous 18th, he coolly sank a gutsy 13-foot par putt to hold off Garcia’s spirited challenge.
Standing on the practice green as Garcia’s approach splashed into the water, Leishman finally allowed himself to realise the victory was his.
“I wanted this one pretty bad,” he confessed. “Especially having a two-shot lead teeing off 18. Probably the worst hole in the world to have—a two-shot lead is nothing on that hole.”
On Sunday, however, the Blue Monster bowed to Marc Leishman, who finally conquered the course that had once humbled him.