Leishman keen on Australian breakthrough

Among the Australian PGA Championship favourites, Marc Leishman has made it clear he isn't on the Gold Coast for a holiday.

Marc Leishman

Australia's Marc Leishman has again embraced the pressure of performing in a home tournament. (AAP)

Marc Leishman admits the pressure builds every year he fails to win on home soil.

Hence he's leaving no stone unturned ahead of this weekend's Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast, his only chance this year to break an Australian tournament duck.

The world No.21 said in the past he may have treated tournaments like the Australian PGA as a holiday, but that's not the case anymore.

"That pressure definitely grows, for sure," he said ahead of the $1.5 million tournament's Thursday start.

"I don't think I feel pressure to win, but I'm a lot more determined to do the right things and give myself the best chance to contend when I'm at home."

Leishman has 12 professional victories to his name, four of which have come in the United States.

He was PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2009 but has never forgotten where it all began.

"My first golf memories were at the Australian Masters in Melbourne," he said.

"You see your idols lifting that trophy and you want to do that as well.

"The last few years I've really made sure I've done the right things - I don't want to get another five years down the track and still be getting asked the questions."

Leishman finished fourth at Royal Pines last year and played well in last week's World Cup of Golf in Melbourne alongside defending PGA champion Cameron Smith.

The Victorian revealed on Wednesday he had tinkered with his wedge set-up after watching Smith, who has continually impressed from close to the pin while moving to No.33 in the world this year.

"I think as a golfer you've always got to try and keep learning, whether that's off an older guy or a young guy who's really good at something like Cam is at his wedge play," he said of the man 10 years his junior.

"I'm always trying to get better and I feel like we can learn off each other."

With no Adam Scott or Jason Day on deck the pair will fly the flag for Australia, alongside English fan favourite Andrew 'Beef' Johnston, on a day where players and spectators are encouraged to wear yellow to honour the late Jarrod Lyle.

Fellow young guns Lucas Herbert, Jordan Zunic - who lost to Smith in a play-off last year - and Curtis Luck will hope to finish their seasons on a high.

Having permanently returned to Australia after 20 years abroad, 2008 champion Geoff Ogilvy will contest the tournament for the first time in six years.

Grainy greens and the threat of wind will provide an x-factor on what players have described as a course that provides equal amounts of trouble and birdie opportunities.


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Source: AAP



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