Marc Leishman talks about his time away from golf as he prepares to return down under

Marc Leishman has revealed he spent his time away from golf caddying for his son who is already showing promise. Plus, Leishman’s big plans upon his return down under.

Marc Leishman.

Marc Leishman insists that he always plays his best golf when fresh and resuming from a rest. It’s why he believes the upcoming Australian summer could see him break through at one of the big events on home soil.

“Normally I have played a quite a lot of golf leading up to them,” Leishman said.

“Obviously you never know how you are going to play but I have always tended to play my best golf when I have been fresh, coming off a little bit of a break.

“I will come off three weeks off with a little practice thrown in there. Hopefully this is my best Australian summer yet.

“I haven’t had too many chances to win either of the events — I have come close at the (Australian) PGA a couple of times. Hopefully this can be a good year at both of them and try to win one of them.”

Marc Leishman. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Leishman on Thursday confirmed he would return in November for the Open and PGA, joining great mate Cameron Smith in star-studded fields for the country’s major tournaments.

New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, winner of the British Masters, will also do the double while American duo Patrick Rodgers and Nick Hardy will make their bows at the Open.

Leishman, however, will be one the major drawcards as he comes to the end of a season when he sat out all four majors for the first time in more than a decade.

The decision to move to LIV Golf cost him rankings points and automatic entry into the majors, but the good far out-weighed the bad as he had more time to spend with his wife Audrey and young family.

Marc Leishman will be coming home for the Open and PGA. Picture: Sam Greenwood.

He used his new-found spare time to pick up the guitar and act as caddie for his oldest son Harvey.

“He is a decent player,” Leishman said.

“We have fun when he goes out. He is shooting some good scores and winning some tournaments.

“He is 11 — he has a very good short game. Then I have started learning the guitar with my youngest son (Oliver).

“I have had the opportunity to do a few things I didn’t think I would. It’s been fun. It has been a highlight. I have a lot more respect for the guitar players and their calluses.”

Pushed on whether he was disappointed to miss the majors, Leishman said: “That is something I was aware of when I signed (with LIV) – we knew there were no ranking points and we knew that’s a possibility.

“Obviously I would still love to play the majors. Hopefully I get that opportunity again to qualify for a few and do well enough I one of them to get myself that exemption or a few years.

“I wouldn’t say I have come to terms with not playing them because I think I can still play them in future, but with how good a year it has been off the golf course and with how happy I see my kids and my wife, and how much fun I am having at the tournaments I am playing, it has been a lot easier to deal with.”

What would help would be a win in Australia. Leishman has long coveted a major victory on home soil and he is confident this could be the year.

“It is something that has been missing of my resume forever,” Leishman said.

“As you win more around the world, and add to your resume, that is something you want to put on it too.

“To play well and lift one of those trophies would be huge. As a kid – in person and on TV – you dream of holding onto to one of those trophies.

“Hopefully I get that chance while I still have a few good years left in me.”

Originally published as Marc Leishman talks about his time away from golf as he prepares to return down under