Marc Leishman is back on the major championship stage, making his presence felt at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. After making the cut, Leishman finds himself in the mix, showcasing the resilience and skill that have defined his career.
Leishman's journey to Oakmont wasn't straightforward. He secured his spot through a hard-fought final qualifying event, battling through 38 holes and a 3-for-2 playoff at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. The 41-year-old Aussie carded rounds of 70 and 69 to finish at 139, three-under-par, demonstrating his determination to compete in his first U.S. Open since 2022 and his first major since the Open Championship at St Andrews that same year.
"The first two holes [of the day] I didn't hit a bad shot and bogeyed them both so it wasn't the greatest start but really kept my head in it and grinded it out towards the end," Leishman said, highlighting his mental fortitude. "I really hit some good shots when I needed to. It was good to get some shots under pressure, in particularly coming off a month off [between LIV Golf tournaments] and hit some good shots. I hit a really a good tee shot in the second playoff hole to about four feet and that got me through.”
Leishman's return to the U.S. Open comes after a period of transition in his career. He joined LIV Golf in 2022 and recently secured his first LIV Golf individual title at the Miami tournament in April 2025. His final-round 68 at Trump National Doral, the only bogey-free round of the week, demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure, holding off past Masters champions Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel. This win not only marked a personal triumph but also contributed to his team, Ripper GC, claiming the team title.
At Oakmont, Leishman is drawing on his past experiences and a fondness for the challenging course. He finished T-18 at Oakmont during the 2016 U.S. Open and has visited the course numerous times. "I love the place," said Leishman, who has a connection to Oakmont through his US manager, Bud Martin, a member at the club. “We went there with Bud and my dad [Paul] and we played there for a couple of days about two years ago. I've been there quite a few times and yeah, I love it.”
Through two rounds at the 2025 U.S. Open, Leishman has shown glimpses of his best form. "I got off to a really good start ball-striking-wise," Leishman said after his second round. "I hit it to about eight feet on the first and left it short, adjusted on 2 and 3, and then had short birdie putts on the first maybe five or six holes. Scrambled pretty well, but yeah, obviously a little disappointing about the three bogeys in a row, but you don't have to do much wrong on this golf course to make bogeys." He acknowledged the difficulty of Oakmont, a course that "really punishes bad shots but still rewards good shots."
Leishman's presence at the U.S. Open adds another layer of intrigue to the event, showcasing the ongoing connection between LIV Golf players and the major championships. He is joined by fellow Australians Jason Day, Cam Davis, Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, and Min Woo Lee. As he aims for a strong finish, Leishman hopes to secure his place in future majors, stating, "I'm happy to get through and hopefully I can finish top four in either this US Open, or the British Open, and not have to qualify for the majors next year."
With his recent win at LIV Golf Miami and a renewed sense of confidence, Marc Leishman is poised to make a significant impact at the 2025 U.S. Open, reminding the golf world of his talent and competitive spirit.
