Page 19 - Golf Champion -Apr 2021

Leishman refused to yield to the captivity of negativity – prevail in a playoff.
chipping in after a penalty drop. The prediction from Leishman wasn’t one of arrogance –
it was a continuation of the mindset and spirit the team
Cameron Smith’s tee shot on the drivable par-4 16th had had played with from day one. Smith knew he had the
just taken a wicked bounce to the left and ended up in tools to make it happen and as such wasn’t dwelling on
alligator territory. The Australian team had held a two- the position he’d put his partner in.
shot lead a few holes prior but were now one behind The duo are very close mates and by nature have each
Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen and perhaps other’s back. They’d rented a house together to stay in
staring down the barrel of a missed opportunity. with their caddies Matty Kelly and Sam Pinfold such is the
It was the type of situation many might have folded under, close bond of all four. But with Smith arguably providing
ruing the luck of the bounce, and letting oneself find the the majority of big moments through the first three
captivity of negativity as they took a penalty drop off the rounds, Leishman knew this was his moment.
back of making bogeys on two of the previous three holes. Now Leishman is a six-time PGA TOUR winner and
Instead Marc Leishman said, “Why don't we just chip Smith has three to his name – two at this event having
this in.” And he went ahead and did just that for a critical won in 2017 with Jonas Blixt. And the pair have shown
birdie to tie things up again. The teams remained tied International Presidents Cup captain Trevor Immelman
over the final two holes before the Australians would how incredible they can be as a team ahead of the 2022

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