Aussie Marc Leishman showed he’s not easily flustered after hitting a stunning second round at the LIV Golf tournament despite a snake encounter…setting up a whopping $6million payday
- Leishman has a two-shot lead in the LIV event
- Aussie encountered a rattlesnake on the course
- He is seeking a 14th career victory
Marc Leishman found himself in a rare and privileged position after taking a two-shot lead into the final round of the LIV Golf event in Arizona, where he ran into a rattlesnake.
The Australian first-round leader opened with an eagle and shot a five-under 66 at The Gallery GC on Saturday to move to 11-under but he has two major winners breathing down his neck.
Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, was tied for second after a 65 with 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (68) a further shot back and tied with Cameron Tringale, Charles Howell and Brendan Steele.
The towering Victorian also had to contend with wildlife, coming face-to-face with a deadly rattlesnake on televised broadcast.
Leishman hasn’t had many opportunities in recent years to make the final round of a golf tournament as the solo leader and he’s determined to make the most of his latest opportunity.
The Australian first-round leader opened with an eagle and shot a five-under 66 at The Gallery GC on Saturday to move to 11-under but has two major winners breathing down his neck
‘There’s a few here and there,’ said the 39-year-old. ‘But it’s been a year or two.
‘Obviously you play early in the tournament to try to put yourself in a good position, and I played well enough to do my first part of the job.
‘But there is probably more than half the work to be done tomorrow.’
Seeking a 14th career victory, Leishman admitted he had a habit of letting a rough stretch ruin his round but dropped just one shot on Saturday.
‘I got off to a really hot start, then cooled off on the back nine,’ said Leishman, who was four under for his round through eight holes.
‘But I didn’t let it get away from me.’
Leishman’s compatriot Matt Jones had eight birdies but also a double bogey and two bogeys to tie for 10th, six shots off the lead.
Australia’s world No.5 Cameron Smith (70) is out of the individual title picture, tied for 34th in the 48-player field, 10 shots behind Leishman.
Leishman hasn’t had many opportunities in recent years to enter the final round of a golf tournament as the solo leader and is determined to make the most of his latest opportunity.
Seeking a 14th career victory, Leishman admitted he has a habit of letting a rough stretch ruin his round but dropped just one shot on Saturday.
Fellow Australian Jed Morgan is tied for 45th in fifth after a 74.
The Australian team, Ripper, was third in the team competition at 17 under – counting the scores of Leishman, Jones and Smith – five shots behind Garcia’s leading Fireballs.
Garcia, whose last victory anywhere was in Mississippi more than two years ago, could have been even closer to Leishman had he not missed a two-foot par putt on the 16th.
