MARC Leishman is eager to harness his stunning British Open heroics when he returns to competition next week.
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The Warrnambool export will take a career-best ranking into the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational before teeing off in the US PGA, the final major of the year.
Leishman finished third in the Ohio-based Bridgestone Invitational 12 months ago behind Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
An ankle injury will deny world number one McIlroy the chance to defend his title.
“I have good memories there,” Leishman said.
“I played really well last year – I was three shots clear of fourth.
“All the tournaments to end the year are big, so it’s a good time to be playing well.
“They’re both good tournaments – a World Golf Championship and a major, so it’s as big as it gets.”
Leishman skyrocketed to number 27 in the world after his heartbreaking play-off defeat at the British Open last month.
He surged into contention after a stunning third-round 64 – an effort which included eight birdies.
He carded a final-round 66 to finish 15 under for the tournament and book a spot in a play-off with American Zach Johnson and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
The Virginia Beach-based professional knows form can be fleeting but was buoyed by his finish at St Andrews. He rated his final two rounds at the Old Course among the best of his career.
“I feel like I have been playing okay the last few years without doing anything special and that I am starting to play the way I know I can the last few months,” Leishman said.
“Moving up the rankings is great and it gets you into big tournaments, the President’s Cup, that sort of thing.”
Leishman is aware his past results will count for little when the Bridgestone Invitational starts on Thursday, Australian EST.
“It’s good when you can play well and score well too,” he said.
“A lot of the time you play well and not get a good score. You can’t always take advantage for some reason.”