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Leishman surge falls short in Vegas

3 minute read

A haul of nine birdies wasn't enough for Australian golfer Marc Leishman to catch South Korean Sungjae Im at the PGA Tour's Shriners Children's Open.

MARC LEISHMAN of Australia.
MARC LEISHMAN of Australia. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Marc Leishman's stunning final-round charge up the leaderboard at the US PGA Tour's Shriners Children's Open has fallen just short with the Australian forced to settle for a share of third.

Leishman, who started the final round at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas tied for 15th, posted nine birdies in a sparkling round of eight-under 63 to get to 19-under par.

He was five shots adrift of runaway winner Sungjae Im, who carded the low round of the day with a 62 to post 24-under 260 - matching the tournament record set by Ryan Moore in 2012 and equalled by Webb Simpson a year later.

American Matthew Wolff (68) was second at 20 under.

Claiming his second PGA Tour title, South Korean Im topped his previous best birdie haul in a PGA Tour round, finishing with nine including seven in an eight-hole stretch around the turn.

Leishman had five birdies on the front nine and four on the back, with a bogey at the 16th his only blemish, as he tied with Rory Sabbatini (64), who now plays under the Slovakian flag, and overnight leader American Adam Schenk (70).

The 37-year-old shot 65 in the final round to finish fourth at the Fortinet Championship three weeks ago and said it felt good to be delivering under pressure.

"It's good just to be playing well, feeling good over the ball, seeing the putts go in," Leishman told PGA Australia.

"It's been a while since that's happened and for it to happen at Napa and then here again it's a good feeling.

"You have to do everything pretty well when you shoot a number like that and to do it on a Sunday makes you feel pretty good.

"Hopefully I can continue on next week and for the rest of the season."

Leishman will stay in Vegas this week for the CJ Cup.

Cameron Davis (66) and Matt Jones (70) were the next best Australians in a tie for 27th at 12 under while Adam Scott was in a group a shot further back after a final round 69.

Im, the world No.29, was joint leader after the second round but dropped to sixth before the start of play on Sunday.

The 23-year-old said he enjoyed the still conditions for a bogey-free round after wind on Saturday made the going tough.

"The big difference between rounds was no wind and that made it easier," Im told the PGA.

"Tee to green, driver, irons, putting game - it worked as I wanted it to and it gave me a good result."

Im's other PGA Tour victory was at The Honda Classic in Florida in March last year.

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