Audrey Leishman feels lucky to be alive, let alone be present for husband Marc to win a US PGA Tour event.
The wife of Australian golfer Leishman stood beside Bay Hill's 18th green in Florida on Sunday nursing children Harvey, 5, and Ollie, 3, as the Victorian clinched a one-shot victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Making 33-year-old Leishman's first win on Tour since 2012 more special was that it secured the world No.62 one of the last available spots in the Masters starting on April 6.
"It's hard to put into words. He's worked so hard and we've obviously been through so much. This year has been an amazing year," said Audrey, who wasn't present for Leishman's 2012 win at the Travelers Championship.
The good news stands in stark contrast to this time two years ago, when on the eve of the 2015 Masters Leishman had to withdraw as Audrey had been hospitalised with acute respiratory distress and toxic shock syndrome.
Her organs shut down and she was placed in a medically-induced coma.
"It certainly changes your perspective on life going through something like that; if Audrey had have passed away I was ready to give (golf) away," said Leishman.
Adds Audrey: "The best way to put it is they went through their nightmare when I was in my coma. When I woke up, it was a big relief for them, and that's when I realised what had happened to me and how sick I really was."
Months later, Audrey was recovering from the illness while Warrnambool native Leishman lost in a playoff at the 2015 British Open at St Andrews.
So you can guarantee Audrey, who is is pregnant with the couple's third child, will be in the gallery at Augusta when Leishman plays his fifth Masters.
Leishman will be hoping to better his share of fourth place in 2013 when countryman Adam Scott won the Masters green jacket.
"I'm finally starting to feel healthy and it's been nice," said Audrey.
"I'll go to Augusta, but I'll have to go order (children's) outfits for the Par-3 contest.
"It's a great day and a wonderful week; every golfer's dream. It's the pinnacle."
Leishman is also now exempt for the US PGA Championship in August and his projected ranking of world No.32 should also ensure he gets into the US Open and British Open.
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