Victorian Marc Leishman put on a tremendous display of golf over the final 36 holes of The 144th Open to earn a chance of victory in a playoff.
Leishman recorded just one bogey in the last two rounds of The Open to post a tournament total of 15-under 273 and finish regulation play tied for the lead with Zach Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen.
The script was writing itself with Australian golf fans on the edge of their seats hoping Leishman, who contemplated giving up the game just months ago in the face off his wife’s life threatening illness, would be the first Australian since Greg Norman in 1993 to win the Claret Jug.
However an unlucky lie on the first playoff hole, which saw Leishman’s drive end in a divot, resulted in a bogey where his two opponents made birdies.
“I drove it straight into a divot which was pretty disappointing, especially with that pin and the burn right in front, I had no chance of getting anywhere near it. That was about as good as I could have done and then I three putted,” said Leishman.
“I was on the back foot as soon as I hit it in that divot and made the five on the first.”
It was too much to overcome for the Victorian, who was aiming to win his first Major, and a further bogey at the 17^th sealed his fate as runner-up to Johnson the eventual champion.
“I am obviously pretty disappointed at the minute, having a chance to win it and not being able to take it out but that’s golf unfortunately,” added Leishman.
“I gave it my best shot, Zach just played really well in the playoff and I didn’t have my best stuff there.”
“I am happy don’t worry about that, I have just finished second in The Open, yes I could have won it but my perspective is quite good at the moment.”
“I can go home tomorrow and hug Audrey (his wife) and the boys and celebrate a little bit I guess, it would have been nice to have a Claret Jug to drink out of but I will find something else,” added Leishman. 
To see how the other Aussies finished at The 144th Open please visit pga.org.au.
Source - PGA of Australia