Australian Open: A year of living on the edge for Leish

Marc Leishman tees it up at at the Australian Open having endured a year of near tragedy and near triumph.

Marc Leishman plays a chip shot to the 10th green during practice ahead of the Australian Open. Picture: Brett Costello.

The pain of almost losing his wife. The joy of almost winning the British Open. Marc Leishman arrived in Sydney for the Australian Open having endured a year of near tragedy and near triumph.

“I didn’t play great early in the year,” Leishman said yesterday during a practice round with amateur star Ryan Ruffels at The Australian Golf Club.

“Obviously Audrey got sick, so I had to take a month off. I played well after that. It has probably not been the year I was after but considering everything that was happening off the golf course, I was just happy to keep my card really.

“Then to almost win the British Open was pretty satisfying.”

That satisfaction has been tempered by the ongoing struggles on the home front. In late-March, Leishman’s wife Audrey was hospitalised and given only a five per cent chance of survival after being struck down by an acute respiratory distress syndrome and toxic shock. Miraculously, she survived after being placed in an induced coma for four days.

However, doctors have told the couple it could take two years before they know whether she will make a full recovery. Not surprisingly, Audrey has stayed home in the US with their two children while Leishman pursues his maiden Australian Open title.

“We moved house last week in America,” Leishman said. “I wanted to be there for that. It’s been about three weeks away from home. That’s about as much as I want to do at the moment with Audrey the way she is.

“It’s a long road. It’s taken a lot longer than what she thought, I think. She is going as well as can be expected. She just has no energy, no stamina. Most mornings she wakes up and says she feels like she has a hangover. She is flat, no energy. Then on her bad days she is no good at all. Unfortunately it is part of life at the minute.

“She is lucky to be here really. She wasn’t meant to be alive.”

Leishman will start the Open among the favourites, although even he admits it will take something special to topple Jordan Spieth. The 32-year-old Victorian’s confidence has been fortified by his performance at the Open Championship, where he lost a in playoff to American Zach Johnson.

“It was obviously a fun week — disappointing partly,” Leishman said. “To get into that position and feel comfortable was good. I was happy with it. I feel really comfortable in them now. Every time I have had a chance I have played reasonably well. Hopefully that is the next step and hopefully I can take care of it next year.

“When I get into that situation I feel comfortable, I enjoy it. That’s why we practice so much — to get into that situation and hopefully handle it well. I managed to do it so hopefully I get the breaks and take care of one.”

Before he resumes his pursuit of a major, Leishman is intent on winning the Stonehaven Cup for the first time. Spieth is among those standing in his way. “Obviously he has had an awesome year but there is a lot of players playing — a lot of great players,” Leishman said.

“He is probably a pretty heavy favourite but, like I said, you still have to play well and hole the putts. There is no reason why someone else can’t play well this week.

“I would like to win it, definitely. My form has been decent the last few weeks. It’s something all of us Australians want to win. I like the golf course. I just have to play well and hole some putts.”