After securing a US Open start last week, Marc Leishman is targeting a Presidents Cup berth when he plays the US PGA Tour’s Memorial tournament this week.
Leishman and fellow Australian hopefuls Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Greg Chalmers and Aaron Baddeley know a big performance at the Memorial, on the same Muirfield Village course where the Presidents Cup will be held in October, could be the difference in making the International team.
Currently Adam Scott, who leads the International team standings based on the world rankings, and Jason Day (fifth) are the only Australians who can be confident of taking on the American team in the biennial contest.
The International’s new non-playing captain Nick Price is at Muirfield Village to assess potential members of his 12-man team who will chase a first win since 1998.
“I definitely want to get in the team and this is obviously a week that can’t hurt you if you step up and play well,” Leishman, currently 12th on the International standings.
“There is big motivation to be part of a team who can finally get a win back off the US team, especially on US soil after they beat us two years ago in Melbourne.”
Price, who succeeded two-time captain Greg Norman, admitted Leishman’s tie for fourth at The Masters had caught his eye.
“I’ve been paying attention to Marc Leishman,” Price said.
“He’s got a wonderful attitude. I really like how calm and relaxed he is.
“There’s not very much at fault with his game. With a little more experience, he would have had a really good shot at the title on Sunday at the Masters.”
The 29-year-old Leishman was among potential team members who attended at informal gathering on Tuesday night and he was excited to be in Price’s thoughts.
“It’s great that he took notice,” Leishman said.
“Playing well under the pressure at the Masters didn’t hurt my cause and now to know I’m in the mix and to get to know Nick is great.
“There are a lot of world ranking points on offer coming up so I want to play my way on to the team so he doesn’t have to use a (captain’s) pick on me.”
Senden (13th), Marcus Fraser (16th), Ogilvy (18th), Brett Rumford (19th) Chalmers (20th), Brendan Jones (27th) and Baddeley (34th) are still considered chances for the team but need some good form coming in.
Senden, Ogilvy, Chalmers and Baddeley are in the field this week with Leishman, Scott and Day, as is Matt Jones and Robert Allenby.
Scott, Day, Ogilvy, Baddeley and Allenby were all part of the 2011 team who lost at Royal Melbourne.
