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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Leishman calls out claims that LIV players can't win majors
SYDNEY - Australian Marc Leishman has rubbished the idea that players who have defected to the LIV Golf series are ill-prepared to win major championships. The former world number 12, who joined LIV in 2022 after winning six U.S. PGA titles, qualified for next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont on Monday to end his three-year absence from the majors. Leishman grinned when asked about comments made by commentator Brandel Chamblee, who said Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau fell out of contention at last month's PGA Championship because of LIV's format and lack of competition. "I would disagree with that," the 41-year-old told reporters by video call from the U.S. on Thursday. "I think the way our schedule is set up actually lends itself to being able to prepare very well for the majors. "We're playing against great fields every single week on tough golf courses. Yes, it's 54 holes, but it puts a bit of pressure on that first round to get off to a good start because they are a little bit more of a sprint. "We're still playing a lot of golf away from tournaments, enjoying golf more and I think when you are enjoying your golf and it's not so much of a grind, that lends itself to better play. "I would probably disagree with Brandel Chamblee ... a lot." Leishman, whose best finish at a major was a tie for second at the 2015 British Open, felt he could be a title contender in Pennsylvania next week. "Obviously golf's a funny game and you need a lot of stuff to go right on the right weeks, particularly the major weeks," he added. "And sometimes even if you do have your good stuff and you make the parts and you get a couple of lucky breaks, someone can still go crazy and beat you so you need a lot of stuff to go right. "But definitely I feel like that my game is probably as good as it's ever been. My mindset is as good as it's ever been and hopefully I can get the breaks and come out on top." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
'Koala' Karl Vilips looking to back up PGA breakthrough at Players
March 13 (Reuters) - Karl Vilips celebrated his breakthrough win on the U.S. PGA tour with a couple of hours playing Super Smash Bros. but it was back to business on Wednesday as he started his preparations for the Players Championship. The 23-year-old Australian earned a last-minute invite to the "fifth major" at TPC Sawgrass with last weekend's victory at the Puerto Rico Open in only his fourth start on the tour. A couple of congratulatory messages from Tiger Woods, whose apparel brand he promotes, confirmed Vilips had arrived among golf's elite and he was still getting his head around it. "Pretty surreal," he said. "I mean, it's something you can only dream about as a kid. I got that voicemail, and then the message, which for him to say that he was very proud of me was just an awesome feeling." Although only ninth months into his professional career, Vilips' long-standing social media presence means he has been well-known as "Koala Karl" to golf fans on the internet for nearly a decade. The Australian nickname is no longer reflected in his accent after 12 years in America, including four playing golf at Stanford University, but Vilips is proud of his country's heritage in the sport. Jakarta-born Vilips, who won gold for Australia at the 2018 Youth Olympics, said major winners like Adam Scott and Jason Day had been a big influence on him growing up. "They were the best in the country, representing Australia well," he added. "And I want to fill their shoes someday. I've been able to keep in touch with Jason a little bit and it's been great. So definitely guys I look up to and people that I want to be like." Both Scott (2004) and Day (2016) won the Players Championship but Vilips thinks it unlikely he will join them this week, with a top-20 finish his "realistic goal". He was not entirely ruling out a victory at a course close to his Jacksonville home, though. "I would be pretty surprised," he said. "I've got to beat a lot of great players, I've got to play unbelievable golf. I think I would need to play much better golf than I did last week, just because this course is a little bit harder. "But I've obviously thought about it, winning the Players here. That would be unbelievable."
