Marc Leishman

World No. 6 Smith has already won this event twice and has already won twice this season, including THE PLAYERS in a near home game. World No. 45 Leishman on the other hand, began the season promisingly with top-10 finishes in back-to-back starts at the Fortinet (T4) and Shriners (T3), but hasn't contended since and hasn't won since here last year, so you've got to think that this week may have meant more to him. Now a full 12 swings adrift of leaders Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, the duo will attempt to save some face in alternate shot tomorrow, where they'll begin two swings shy of the overnight top 10. 

Finishing in a tie for fifth-place in last year’s Masters, Leishman added to his resume at Augusta National which includes three additional top-15 finishes. Playing alongside Adam Scott in the final round in 2013, Leishman was given a front row seat to what it takes to don the green jacket. Having been close in major championships before, Leishman was asked if experiencing Scott’s triumph up close and personal is something he still thinks about. The 38-year-old said, “Yeah, that's why we do all the practice, and that's why -- well, as a professional golfer, this is where you want to be. You want to be here late on Sunday with people screaming at you and at your good shots. It gives me a big buzz, and it's something that I work hard for to try and get back here every year to get myself into that situation. That Sunday night after that, even from not winning, I can never sleep. I really want to know how it feels when you do come out on top.” 

A perfect 9-for-9 in weekend appearances this season, Leishman has been able to collect two top-5s, a top-10, and three additional top-20 results already. With his worst finish coming out to be a T-38 at THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT, the world No. 37 appears ready to reenter the winner’s circle. In what will be the 13th straight season in which he travels to Bay Hill Club and Lodge, the 38-year-old has contended plenty of times before. Winning in 2017, this result added to a number of podium finishes as Leishman fell short to Hatton in 2020 and finished in a tie for third in 2011. With a tournament scoring average of 71.40, Leishman sits at +3500 at PointsBet Sportsbook to capture his second Arnold Palmer Invitational title. 

The Aussie was T43 after an opening 70, vaulted to T10 with a 66 yesterday, and today, solidified his chances for a fourth top 10 of the season in eight events. On seven (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, he lost 0.861 strokes with the flat stick but gained 2.123 approaching and 0.938 around-the-green. The 38-year-old squared a lone bogey-5 at 15 (3-putt from 48'8"), offset by five birdies at 1, 3, 8, 14 and 18 (fringe-shot from 14'0"), three conventionally from between 11 and 15 feet, missing two other tries from inside of six feet. He owns two top 10s in 12 prior appearances, both top 5s, most recently a T4 in 2019 where he was T6 after 54 holes (69-69-67-68).