THE fine margins of golf came into sharp focus after Warrnambool professional Marc Leishman booked his spot at next month’s US Open.
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Leishman qualified for the major for a fourth time, despite dropping to 60th on the Official World Golf Rankings following the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
He finished tied for 27th at six-under, six shots behind American Chris Kirk.
The result dropped him from 56th to 60th on the OWGR, released on Monday.
But by being in the top 60, he is assured a place in the US Open field.
The 115th edition is at Chambers Bay Golf Course, near Seattle, from June 18 to 21.
Leishman, who was ranked 61st at the same time in 2014 and played poorly in a qualifying tournament, said he was relieved to book his spot.
He noted how different the rankings could have been had he not signed for a final-round 70 in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, to go with 66, 69 and 70. “I dropped a few more (spots) than I thought I would on the weekend. I finished 27th and dropped four spots — that doesn’t happen very much at all,” he said.
“I got up and down on the last hole. One shot worse in a tournament this year and I would’ve missed out. It’s nice to be in and not have to do that qualifier.
Leishman backed himself to perform at Chambers Bay, a course which he said suited his golf.
His best result in a US Open is tied for 51st in 2011.
“It’s a course that should suit me more so than a normal US Open with the super long rough and narrow fairways,” he said.
“It’s going to play more like a British Open. I definitely didn’t grow up on a course where the rough is five inches long, wet and thick.
“I’ve adjusted to that with the amount of tournaments I’ve played over here, but the US Open, they take it to another level.”
The Crowne Plaza International was Leishman’s third stroke tournament since withdrawing from the Masters when wife Audrey suffered a serious health scare.
He has made the cut in each of them, in the process rediscovering the consistency in his game which had been elusive earlier in the year.
“I was very close to being right in there with a chance to win,” he said. “I made a couple of little mistakes here and there. That’s golf, that happens.”
He was pleased to be back to his regular routine after a turbulent few weeks in April.
Audrey and sons Harvey and Oliver will accompany him at the AT&T Byron Nelson in Texas this weekend — a tournament he has traditionally done well in.
“It’s nice to be able to talk about golf. It’s been a rough couple of months,” he said.
“But we’re on the other side of that now which is good and I’m able to concentrate on my golf and having fun with the boys and Audrey.”
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au