Leishman was at 9-under 207 overall, just one shot off the top spot as he headed to the clubhouse, having finished his round before 36-hole leader Dustin Johnson even teed off.
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And he was still there at the very end Monday, but only as a spectator.
Johnson sunk a snaking, downhill 20-footer for birdie at the last to get to 15 under and it was up to Leishman, Spieth, Day and Oosthuizen coming up behind him to match or better his score. “That was the most important thing, and I was all right with that”. But mostly he watched Jordan Spieth, the 21-year-old new standard in golf come closer to winning the single-season Grand Slam than anyone since Tiger Woods in 2002.
Following up on a Masters triumph in 2007 that was somewhat unexpected, Johnson, ranked No. 25 in the world, showed his ability to outduel more high-profile figures at the Home of Golf.
Leishman’s birdie putt is eight feet short.
Johnson then went clear with a birdie at the second, but he hit a poor approach to the notorious 17th, the Road Hole, and bogeyed, only for Oosthuizen to miss a four-footer to get back on level terms.
Starting the final round three shots behind, he shot 31 on the back nine and took the lead with his seventh birdie of the round on No. 12.
“Why?” Rinaldi asked, sensing he had an opportunity to coax Johnson into revealing some deeper truth about his life that would bring out the tears.
At least he was in elite company.
Jordan Spieth will not win a Grand Slam this year. Spieth is one shot off the lead heading into the final round. “Gets me down to my priorities”, he said.
“To miss a really short putt I don’t really have an explanation for that”.
“I feel honoured to be part of the history of this game and to don my name on that trophy, especially with the names before me”.
“I’m obviously a little disappointed with today’s result but hopefully I can get up there with them a bit more often and try and win a few more tournaments”, Leishman said.
“I’d like to be one of those people to have that happen”. “It’s hard to do that every single time”.
The 39-year-old Johnson now has two majors among his 12 PGA Tour victories, an astounding record and an example that a good wedge game and putter can still go a long way in this era of the long ball. I’m humbled by this but my legacy should be my kids, my family, that kind of thing. I’ve said it a thousand times.
The Australian seemingly needed a miracle on the final hole to lift the Claret Jug, but it never came as the 31 year old left himself with too much to do and could only par the final play-off hole.
Johnson and Leishman both shot 6-under 66s.
It turned left of the hole, ending the latest bid at the holy grail of golf – winning all four professional majors in the same year.
Leishman, who considered giving up golf in April when his wife almost died of a rare respiratory illness, fell out of the lead with a bogey on the 16th hole. All three have birdie putts.
Jason Day also came up one shot shy of the playoff. He parred two holes before being called in again.
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“It’s surreal”, an emotional Johnson said after the win, adding: “I’m thankful”.
