Australian golfer Marc Leishman, representing Ripper GC, delivered a strong performance on Saturday, matching Tyrrell Hatton’s score of 68, which positioned him in a tie for 11th place with a total of 4 over par. Notably, Leishman led the field in putting on Saturday and is currently ranked second for the week, despite being eight strokes off the lead. He is in pursuit of his first major championship.
Aside from the coveted winner’s trophy, a lot is at stake for the contenders. Finishing in the top 10 guarantees a spot in the next year’s U.S. Open, which is particularly significant for both Leishman and fellow competitor Carlos Ortiz, who qualified for this tournament through the final qualifying rounds. Additionally, a top-4 finish would secure an exemption to compete in next year’s Masters. Ortiz has not played at Augusta National since 2021, while Leishman last competed there in 2022.
Reflecting on his journey since joining LIV Golf in 2022, Leishman expressed no regrets, stating, “my life is as good as it’s ever been right now. I’m as happy as I’ve ever been.” He, like Hatton, has ambitions tied to their performances this week, with Hatton focused on accumulating world ranking points to enhance his chances of making the European Ryder Cup team later in the year.
Hatton is keen on maintaining his momentum, aiming to follow up his solid play with another strong round. “There’s a lot to play for,” he said, underlining the importance of the majors in his recent competitive strategy.
National pride is also weighing on Ortiz’s shoulders; a victory for the 34-year-old would mark him as the first male golfer from Mexico to capture a major title. Meanwhile, a win for Hatton would establish him as the 21st different major champion from England.
Ortiz had a commendable round, finishing bogey-free at 4 under through the first 17 holes, credited to his sharp iron play as he led in greens in regulation with an impressive 80% accuracy. Even with a bogey on the final hole, he remained optimistic, stating, “All in all, it was a good round; it doesn’t really matter if I bogey 18 or not.”
Overall, the players are not only competing for titles but also for their legacies, bringing an exciting narrative to this major championship season. Each competitor’s journey sheds light on their ambitions and the larger stakes of the game.