PGA Tour: Aussies Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith pair up to win Zurich Classic

Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith may be rivals when it comes to the best lawn, but their friendship paid huge dividends in New Orleans.

Marc Leishman of Australia wore a mullet wig as he walked out with his partner Cameron Smith on the first tee during the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Cameron Smith is set to take his good luck mullet to Tokyo as he and countryman Marc Leishman locked in their Olympic commitment following an Anzac Day triumph in New Orleans.

A bond so close Smith let Leishman trim the haircut which is gaining cult status paid off big time for the Australian duo with a $2.6m collect at the Zurich Classic.

In a thrilling final day, which started with the Aussie lawn lovers in the lead, the tournament finished in a playoff with the Aussies downing South African major champions, and Presidents Cups teammates, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen.

A horror drive from Oosthuizen found the water on the first playoff hole, opening the door for the Australian mates to waltz through. Smith then nailed a two-metre par putt as shouts of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” rang out among the crowd as the dynamic duo felt the “good vibes” of an April 25 win.

“I was actually speaking to my old man last night and he said it’s a really good omen for us guys being up the top of the leaderboard on Anzac Day,” Smith, from Queensland, said.

“I know my family went out to a dawn service yesterday morning and paid their respects, so maybe we have got a bit of good karma out there today because of that.”

Leishman, who secured his previous PGA Tour win on Australia Day last year, said he needs “more Australian holidays”.

“We spoke about it last night, yeah, being Anzac Day in Australia,” Leishman said.

“We appreciate their sacrifice and we wouldn’t be here without what they gave.”

The nationalistic vibes were strong when both were asked about their Olympic ambitions, following Adam Scott’s decision last week to withdraw form contention for Tokyo.

“Yes, I’m all in,” Leishman said and Smith followed quickly with a “me too”.

“I mean, any chance I can get to put on the green and gold or a team shirt I’m all in. I’m a hundred per cent,” Smith said.

“And I’ll be thrilled if I’m there and contending on the weekend for a gold medal.”

Smith is currently the highest ranked Aussie at 25 and would be first picked, with Scott (35) and then Leishman (37).

He said he would cut off his mullet at his next victory, but that won’t be happening.

“It’s not going away. I mean, I feel like it’s part of me now.”

The pair showed the benefits of playing together, which they also did at the 2018 World Cup in Melbourne, not panicking despite a couple of late stumbles.

They made a rare bogey on the 15th hole, their first since the second round, which dropped them a shot behind the South Africans.

Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman celebrate a birdie in the final round. Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Then Smith sent his tee shot on the short par four 16th hole into the water.

But standing beside the green Leishman said, ”Why don’t we just chip this in?” He did to draw level again.

“I actually forgot to get my ball out of the hole I was so excited,” Leishman said.

“I went over and was high-fiving Cam, and Louis had to throw the ball to me.”

A dramatic twist at the 17th hole, where both pairs made bogey, set up a final hole shootout for victory. Both teams made par, sending them back to the 18th tee where Oosthuizen went in to the water, and the Aussies were able to wrap up the win.

WOW indeed!! https://t.co/UMWkYqs3Df

— Golf Australia (@GolfAust) April 25, 2021

It was Smith’s second victory in the team event and his first on tour since the Queenslander won the Sony Open in Hawaii last January.

For Leishman, it was a sixth PGA Tour win, his last coming at the Farmers Insurance Open, also last January.

The win also came after both recorded top-10 finishes at the Masters earlier this month.

Originally published as PGA Tour: Aussies Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith pair up to win Zurich Classic