Marc Leishman Wins LIV Golf Miami

Marc Leishman won his first LIV Golf individual title as he beat South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel by one stroke in Miami - and finished ahead of a host of other players preparing for The Masters. 

The 41-year-old Australian has struggled since moving to LIV in 2022 and will not be in the field at Augusta this week. But he recorded a four-under final round of 68 to finish at six under and secure victory. 

Leishman had started the day three shots behind leader Bryson DeChambeau, but set the tone with a birdie at the first. He then sunk birdies at the fourth, eighth, and 10th holes before eight pars helped him finish just ahead of Schwartzel, who carded 66 on the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral in Florida. "I saw all the guys right behind me and I knew the holes I had to finish up on," Leishman said. "I played probably some of my best golf I've ever played today."

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Among the LIV players taking part at the Masters in addition to Schwartzel, former Masters champion Sergio Garcia was two shots behind Leishman at four under.

US Open champion DeChambeau finished a further two shot back at at two under while three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson finished one under.

Jon Rahm, the 2023 Augusta winner, finished one over. 

What You Need to Know About Marc Leishman

Leishman was born on October 24, 1983 in Warmambool, Victoria. 

He had a successful amateur career in Australia. He won the Warrnambool Club Championship as a 13-year-old while playing in the same group as his father. In 2001 he won the Victorian Junior Masters, the South Australian Junior Masters and was the Victorian Boys champion.

He turned professional in 2005. He played on the Von Nida Tour in 2006, winning twice and topping the order of merit. In 2007, he played his rookie season on the Nationwide Tour, finishing 92nd on the money list. He won his maiden title on the Nationwide Tour in 2008 at the WNB Classic by 11 shots. He finished the year 19th on the money list to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2009 season.

Leishman was voted the Rookie of the Year in 2009 after recording three top-10 finishes, which included a runner-up finish behind Tiger Woods at the BMW Championship. He qualified for the season ending Tour Championship and finished the year 53rd on the money list. He recorded his second runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2010. He finished inside the top 100 on the money list in both 2010 and 2011. He reached the BMW Championship in both seasons.

Leishman won his first tournament after 96 starts on the PGA Tour in June 2012 at the Travelers Championship, coming from six strokes back after 54 holes to win by a stroke. He shot a final round of 62.

At the 2013 Masters, he was the co-leader after the opening round, alongside Sergio Garcia as he shot a six under total of 66. He maintained his challenge over the second and third rounds to go into the final day two strokes behind the leaders. He finished tied fourth.

In July 2015, at The Open at St Andrews, he finished as joint runner-up after losing in a four-hole aggregate playoff during a Monday finish to the delayed tournament. After coming close to missing the cut after the first two rounds, Leishman shot a 64 during the third round and a 66 in the final round to finish in a tie for first place with Zach Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen.  Leishman held the sole lead with six holes to go during the final round but bogeyed the 16th hole to drop back to 15-under-par. In the resulting four-hole playoff, after finding a divot with his tee shot at the first hole, this led to a bogey while Johnson and Oosthuizen opened with birdies to open up a two-stroke gap over Leishman. A further bogey at the third hole left him three strokes behind on the final hole but his tie for second place gave him his best performance in a major to date.

On 19 March 2017, Leishman won his second PGA Tour event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and in September he claimed his third win at the BMW Championship with a tournament record -23. In October 2018, Leishman shot a 7-under 65 in the final round to win the CIMB Classic by five strokes and equal Justin Thomas’ tournament record of 26-under-par.

In December 2019, Leishman played on the International team at the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. The U.S. team won 16-14. 

In January 2020, he won the Farmers Insurance Open, shooting a final round 65 to come from behind and defeat Jon Rahm by one stroke.

In April 2021, he won the Zurich Classic with Cameron Smith.

In August 2022, it was announced that Leishman had joined LIV Golf. It had all been something of a struggle for him until recording his first win in Miami.

He averages 300.2 yards from the tee, finds 52.38% of fairways and hits 68.52% of greens in regulation. He averages 28.8 putts per round and averages 3.80 birdies per round.