Teeing off just hours after fellow Victorian Lucas Herbert’s win on the European Tour, Leishman roared into contention with four birdies in his opening six holes and then made what Nick Faldo described in commentary as three “mega-pars” at 12, 14 and 15 to win by a single stroke from Jon Rahm.

Rahm had a putt for eagle on the 72nd hole to force the tournament into extra holes but unlike his win at the venue three years ago, the putt pulled up short and left of the cup, allowing Leishman to take a congratulatory phone call on the range.

In the ultimate vindication of the old adage that you “drive for show, putt for dough”, Leishman was dead last in the field for fairways hit in the final round with just three of 14 but picked up close to five shots on the field with his flatstick, his 7-under 65 matched by Charley Hoffman but two shots better than anyone else.

“Number five, that sounds pretty good, and on Australia Day,” Leishman said immediately after win No.5 was confirmed.

“Playing well helps but I didn’t actually hit it that well off the tee today.

“Putting, always. You’re not going to win Tour events if you’re not putting well and I putted as good as I’ve probably ever putted today.

“Made some good birdie putts early and then made some great par saves later. They’re probably even more important than the early ones.

“This feels pretty amazing. I wasn’t expecting this at the start of the day.”

Leishman joins Jason Day (2015, 2018) as the only Australian winners in the 68-year history of the Farmers Insurance Open, Day closing out his return from a back injury with a 3-under 69 to be tied for 16th.

PGA TOUR
Farmers Insurance Open
Torrey Pines (South Cse), La Jolla, California

1             Marc Leishman  68-72-68-65—273            $US1,350,000
T16        Jason Day            73-67-72-69—281            $114,375
T36        Cameron Percy  68-73-74-69—284            $32,667
T36        Cameron Davis   76-65-69-74—284            $32,667
T64        Aaron Baddeley 71-72-69-76—288            $16,050
T64        Cameron Smith  70-71-74-73—288            $16,050
70           Rhein Gibson      69-73-72-76—290            $15,375
T73        Matt Jones          75-68-73-76—292            $14,625
MC         Tim Wilkinson     72-73—145
MC         John Senden       76-76—152
WD        Danny Lee           79