A changed mindset lures Aussie golf star Marc Leishman back to the majors, making his return at the US Open

Aussie LIV golf star Marc Leishman is set to play in his first major tournament since 2022, after qualifying for the US Open, and a change in thinking is the driving factor.

In the months after he defected to LIV Golf in 2022, Marc Leishman gave a very Marc Leishman response to a question about how he was going to go watching the Masters from home the next year.

He said all the right things, the disappointment of not being at Augusta, still wanting to play the majors, having a true test of his golf, et cetera.

Marc Leishman with his family at Augusta National prior to the Masters in 2022. Picture: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

But he was also brutally honest.

He said he was also “fine not playing them”, and he knew it was a potential consequence of joining the Saudi-backed LIV league, which didn’t have world rankings points then (and still doesn’t now). He’d bought the golden ticket, and this was the ride.

At the time, Leishman had made 30 straight appearances in majors, a testament to his incredible ability and durability. Yet like that, with one stroke of a pen and millions of dollars later, the streak was done.

Has he changed his thinking now?

Leishman during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

“Yes, (the mindset) has changed,” says Leishman, who will tee it up at Oakmont for this week’s US Open. “I want to play them.

“It also depends how you define happiness. If that’s playing majors, great. But for me, enjoying my golf and still making a living out of it, with a way better work-life balance … I certainly don’t have any regrets.”

Leishman was right when he said he’d had his chances in majors.

He’d already had three top-10s at Augusta. The same number of times he’d finished in the top six at the British Open. He made a three-man play-off with Zach Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen at St Andrews in 2015, and then with a drive on the first play-off hole which found the fairway, walked to his ball and found it cradled in a divot. That was that.

Leishman in contention at the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews. Picture: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

But at 41, he’ll get a crack at the last two majors of 2025, first qualifying for the US Open last week, and sewing up his spot at Royal Portrush next month courtesy of last year’s top-three Australian Open finish.

His last appearance in a major was Cameron Smith’s holy grail at the home of golf in 2022.

Leishman had dinner with an ill Smith early in tournament week, promptly missed the cut himself at St Andrews, headed straight for the airport the next day and watched Smith in the final round while carrying the bag of son Harvey in a competition back home in the United States.

“I enjoy watching (the majors now) with the kids or going to a sports bar and having a beer or two to enjoy with your friends,” Leishman says. “It’s very different playing it compared to watching it on TV.

“As a fan of golf, they’re some of the best weeks of the year when you can watch the majors on TV. I didn’t get to do that for years, which was fantastic. I was very happy to play them, but I actually enjoyed watching them on TV too.

“And it’s probably made me hungry to get back into them.

“My game is probably as good as it’s been, maybe ever. Golf’s a funny game and anything can happen in a few weeks.”

Leishman’s confidence has maybe never been as high.

He jokes if he’s not the happiest man on the LIV Golf roster, “I’d be No. 2, and I don’t know who’d be No. 1”. It’s showing in his golf.

Leishman in action at the LIV Golf Korea tournament at Jack Nicklaus GC Korea during May. Picture: Jason Butler/Getty Images

He won his first individual LIV title at Miami this year, has spearheaded the all-Australian Ripper GC team throughout the season with Lucas Herbert, did enough to qualify from a hot field of sectional qualifying for the US Open and is no stranger to the brutal Oakmont layout.

And only a couple of months ago, 40-something Justin Rose almost crashed Rory McIlroy’s party and beat the young studs at the Masters.

Can another veteran on the wrong side of 40 show up in a major again?

“My head is probably as good as it’s ever been too,” Leishman said. “I think if I did get an opportunity to be in contention, I would feel very comfortable in that situation. I like playing under pressure and embracing it. I want to test myself in those conditions again.

“The way I’m hitting it and driving it, I feel like I’m a chance this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if I was in contention, but a lot has to go right first.”

Originally published as A changed mindset lures Aussie golf star Marc Leishman back to the majors, making his return at the US Open