WARRNAMBOOL golf export Marc Leishman says a persistent back injury was the catalyst for weight loss he hopes will coincide with wins on home soil.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The world number 27, who will tee off in his first Australian Open appearance since 2015 on Thursday, has lost eight kilograms.
"I just wanted to change my eating habits a little bit. I've had a few back issues popping up," he said.
"I've lost, I think it's eight kilos, so not a whole lot of weight, but a good eight kilos in a suitcase, carry that around all the time, it makes a difference.
"I just try to cut out sugar and bread really, that's about it, and cut down a little bit on the beer. But that's going to be easier said than done while I'm home in Australia.
"It (the weight loss) was a conscious thing that I did and I'm glad I did it."
Leishman, 36, will follow the Australian Open in Sydney with the President's Cup, which features Tiger Woods as Team USA's captain, at Royal Melbourne.
MORE SPORT:
The American-based ace, who has worked on his driving with coach Denis McDade, is hopeful of snapping his winning drought in Australia.
"It is a big two weeks; two tournaments that I really want to win," he said.
"Every Australian golfer wants to win the national open and then I've been on three losing President's Cup (International) teams and I don't really want it to be four,..
"You don't want to put any event on a pedestal, but it's hard not to put these big Australian events on a pedestal, like Majors as well, you want to try a little bit harder but sometimes that's not very good for your golf game, so you've got to work out how to do what's best for you."
Leishman said he learned how to prepare for big events and "over the last couple of years I've done a better job of it".
"I've had chances the last two years to win tournaments in Australia," he said.
"I think before say, 2015, 2016, I think I was either going too hard or relaxing too much, I didn't have that balance.
"So, I think now I treat most events pretty evenly, whether it's the Bays of Limitation or The Masters or The Australian Open or whatever it might be.
"Early in the week you're trying to prepare for a tournament, Thursday, Friday you're trying to get into a good position to win the tournament and then hopefully you're on the range late Sunday.
"That's what you want to do, try and be that last bloke off the range Sunday."
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.