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Marc Leishman ready to roll at Riviera

3 minute read

Fresh off his US PGA Tour win at Torrey Pines, Marc Leishman returns to California to contest Tiger Woods' invitational event at Riviera CC.

MARC LEISHMAN of Australia plays a shot during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course in Lahaina, Hawaii.
MARC LEISHMAN of Australia plays a shot during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course in Lahaina, Hawaii. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Marc Leishman says two weeks celebrating his win at Torrey Pines may be just the right formula for him at Tiger Woods' US PGA Tour event in Los Angeles.

Leishman's victory at the Farmers Insurance Open took him to world No.19 while making him the 13th Australian to win five or more US tour titles.

The laid-back Victorian admits he marked the achievement accordingly.

"Two weeks off was a good opportunity to celebrate; it might have gone on a couple days too long," Leishman joked on Wednesday.

"But you need to enjoy success and it was very satisfying victory on an iconic course.

"I took (wife) Audrey on a trip to the (NHL) hockey in Washington D.C. We had a date night with a nice dinner and a couple beers.

"I play some of my best golf off a break and I'm definitely feeling refreshed."

Leishman returns at this week's Genesis Invitational - previously the LA Open - at Riviera Country Club.

The tournament has been rebranded with Tiger Woods as its official host and is where he made his US Tour debut as a 16-year-old amateur in 1992.

Nine of the world's top-10 golfers are teeing up this week, including new No.1 Rory McIlroy and No.2 Brooks Koepka.

The iconic 94-year-old Riviera course near Santa Monica has been kind to Australian golfers over the years.

It bears a strong resemblance to many Australian courses with its eucalypt trees and kikuyu grass on the fairways.

Steve Elkington won the 1995 US PGA Championship at Riviera while Robert Allenby (2001), Adam Scott (2005) and Aaron Baddeley (2011) all lifted the LA Open trophy here.

Leishman himself has had two top-five results from the past four LA Opens.

"Riviera is a course I love; I've been close to winning a couple times here," Leishman said.

"Some courses just make you feel comfortable and Riviera sets up for how I fade my driver with a (left-to-right shape).

"You have to shape your irons and have a great short game and I feel they are the strongest parts of my game."

The event will offer the winner a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour, one more than regular events, and a $US1.674 million ($A2.49m) winner's prize.

Other Australians in the field are former winners Scott and Baddeley, as well as Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Matt Jones.

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