MARC Leishman is hoping to take some of the best form of his career into next week's final major of the year, the PGA Championship.
The 26-year-old Warrnambool professional produced his best weekend performance of the year to finish the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia at 13-under par.
Fellow Australian Stuart Appleby fired an 11-under par 59 for a four-round total of 22-under to win by a shot from overnight leader, American Jeff Overton.
Leishman backed up his third round five-under 65, his lowest of the year, with a final round 66 yesterday morning Australian time to tie for 16th.
The result, which elevated him to 49th on the PGA Tour points standings, was Leishman's seventh top-20 finish this year.
"I played pretty good," Leishman said.
"I thought I played better than where I finished.
"All the signs are there, my game's coming together."
He said he hadn't shot a lot of low rounds this year.
"I've been playing the bigger tournaments which are generally on the tougher courses," he said.
Leishman, who had just three bogeys for the week, said his game was improving.
"It's probably the best I have hit the ball off the tee ever, I hit a lot of fairways.
"It's looking good for the coming weeks."
He said he was enjoying having security on the sport's biggest stage, the PGA Tour, having won enough prizemoney to retain full playing rights next year.
"You can be a little bit more aggressive knowing you have a job next year. You are always trying toi win but knowing you have a job next year means you can focus more on winning tournaments."
Leishman, who will take this week off to gear up for the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, follows the major with four consecutive tournaments, including as many as all three of the lucrative Fed Ex Cup playoff series events.
"I'm trying to do what I did last year and make it through all of them. That is where you can make some real money and move up (the rankings)."
The Greenbrier Classic was Leishman's first tournament since producing his best result at a major, the British Open, last month.
"At the start of the year I was hitting a lot of good shots that were finishing just off the green. But now it's all starting to come together.
''I'm hitting the ball really well, I'm not only hitting it on the green but in the right areas. I'm giving myself a lot more makeable putts.
"It feels like I've been missing a lot of putts but it means I've been giving myself a lot more chances. Obviously you can't make them all but all the signs are there and I am really looking forward to the next few weeks."
Statistically, Leishman had a great week at the Greenbrier Classic, hitting 100 per cent of greens in regulation in the third round and 94 per cent in his final round.
Overall, he hit 86 per cent of greens in regulation, equal seventh for the week, his driving accuracy was equal 10th and he was 12th for driving distance.
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