The Warrnambool golfer, who finished tied for 28, recorded just one bogey in a strong fourth round at the Hawaiian tournament.

Leishman's fellow Australian, Cameron Smith, won the event while Sydneysider Cameron Davis finished tied for nine.

But the 36-year-old, who grew up opposite Warrnambool Golf Club, carded 67 - his best score of the tournament - to claim a cool $US46,200 ($AU67,234).

Smith, a close friend of Leishman, defeated American Brendan Steele in a sudden-death playoff to clinch the Sony Open crown.

The Queenslander made a clutch putt on the 18^th hole to force the playoff.

"I've always been good at not giving up," Smith said after his victory.

"It was a big fight all week. I knew I had to hole that putt (on 18) and I knew I had to putt well all week with windy conditions.

"I knew in my mind I'd already holed it, it was already in, so I stepped over it and did what I had to do."

Smith, like Leishman, said qualifying for the Olympics was his long-term goal in 2020.

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