LIV GOLF ADELAIDE

February 12, 2026

Marc Leishman

The Grange

Ripper GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the stage, Marc Leishman, Ripper GC. Marc, really nice round today. You're currently T1, 6-under 66. Please just take us through the day out there on the course.

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, it was a good start to the tournament, obviously. Had a stretch of holes to start my round that I haven't really played that well in the past, so was happy to get off to a good start on those first five holes.

Knew I had four of my last seven holes were par-5s, so it was nice to have that in the bank knowing that I had some scorable holes at the end, whether I got off to a good start or not, to just know that, and was able to capitalize on them late in my round. Yeah, it was nice to get off to a good start here.

The last few years I haven't really done that. Yeah, nice to be at the top of the leaderboard after one round.

Q. On the team side, Ripper currently T2. This week does the team component, maybe does it raise to a different level? Is there a certain X-factor to that with this being the home event for the Rippers?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, I think both the team and the individual. Obviously the team we've got great memories here from 2024, winning that. That's probably a top 3 highlight of my whole career, some of the best memories I've ever had on the golf course in that playoff.

Then obviously none of us have really had a chance to win the individual, none of the Rippers, so I think we're all really determined to try and give that a shake this year and one of us to try and win that.

I've got off to a good start, but obviously it's a long tournament and a lot of great players. We play against amazing fields every week, so you know you have to put four good rounds together.

I'm excited to be in the position I am, but there's a lot of work to do.

Q. Marc, you had the only bogey-free round of the day. How impressive is that given the conditions?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, I was happy. I made a couple of good par putts actually. I made a really good par putt on 2. It was just tough in the wind putting. It was moving around a little bit with the gusts.

I made the putts that kept momentum going, which I think is important when it's windy like today. You've got a gettable golf course, but it can also jump up and grab you.

To have a bogey-free round was pretty pleasing. I didn't hit a great wedge shot into the last and made a good up-and-down to do that. I knew what that putt meant, and was happy to be able to make that and keep it blemish-free.

Q. You talked about the individual competition here and that you guys are still chasing that, but obviously you've won in Australia. Is there a different vibe when an Australian wins a golf tournament in Australia?

MARC LEISHMAN: I hope we find out this week. Yeah, I've seen Aussies win Australian Opens and PGAs, and I won a Victorian PGA last year. I've never seen an Australian win an individual title in Australia at a LIV event, which I think would be pretty special. Obviously I was a part of the team win in 2024, and that felt like winning a major for me. It was pretty awesome to have so many people that were equally as happy to celebrate with.

Yeah, I think an Australian winning here would be massive, and yes, it would feel different.

Q. Marc, just interested what that round does for your mindset for the next three days. You've got Bryson, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm all breathing down your neck. Does it shift anything, and what will be your mindset? How do you stay in your bubble for the next three days?

MARC LEISHMAN: I mean, it doesn't really change my mindset. I think it just means that I don't have to really push and take a lot of huge risks to get myself back into the tournament, which I've probably had to do the last few years at this event.

Like I said before, the good thing about LIV is you're playing against the guys you just mentioned every week. So whether you're ahead of them or you're chasing them, you know you have to play really good golf to win one of these. That's certainly going to be the case this week for whoever goes out and wins it or comes from behind or whatever that is. Hopefully it's me.

But I know there's so much work to do, and I'm just really concentrating on sort of conserving energy, making sure I'm fresh for Sunday afternoon if I am in with a chance. I think that's really important.

I think last year we were all pretty tired coming off Riyadh and a lot of commitments early in the week, and I think we've done a really good job of that this week, sort of managing commitments and keeping everything really efficient, keeping practice efficient, feeling well-prepared and rested. Hopefully that will help me at the end of the week.

Q. You've got a reputation for playing well in the wind. What do you do differently, and how did today rate on the Leishman wind scale?

MARC LEISHMAN: What do I do differently? I think I enjoy it. I can't say the same about playing in the rain. I don't enjoy playing in the rain, but I really enjoy playing in the wind, having grown up in it. Just the challenge of it, having to not only control your ball in the air but on the ground, as well, when it's firm conditions like they were and probably going to get firmer.

As far as the wind scale today, it was probably a 4 or 5, I would say, with the Victorian PGA last year being a 9.7. That was pretty crazy.

Yeah, I enjoy it. I think that's an important part of playing good golf in any golf course or whatever. If you enjoy it, you're a better chance to play well. I love playing in the wind.

Q. Sorry for drawing attention to this, but you're now the oldest of the Rippers. Is there a little more motivation in that sense to kind of show the young guys on the team, hey, this is how it's done?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, I know how Jonesy felt the last few years now. I was definitely aware of it. I'm 10 years older than Cam, I think. So yeah, I'm certainly aware of it, and hopefully I can show the young lads how to do it every now and again.

Got off to a good start this week, so hopefully I can keep doing that and give them some crap at the end of the week.