Share
Facebook
Twitter
More
Marc Leishman admits the official launch of a beer named after him will be in the back of his mind while playing in a star grouping alongside Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson at the Travelers Championship.
Leishman Lager - a beer brewed in his adopted home of Virginia Beach - launches on June 27, almost three years after it was created to raise money for Leishman's charity, the Begin Again Foundation.
When Leishman's wife Audrey survived a near-fatal case of toxic shock syndrome in 2015, the couple launched the foundation to provide financial assistance to American families experiencing medical and life crises.
Leishman created the beer in 2016 with Virginia Beach's Back Bay Brewing Co but did not anticipate its wild popularity in Virginia.
Now, Leishman is awaiting approval of a national distribution licence.
The world No.23 golfer hopes to sell Leishman Lager across the US and have the sales all but fund the Begin Again foundation.
"It's very rewarding to see something so enjoyable for everyone raise money for a cause that is close to Audrey's heart," Leishman told AAP.
"Leishman Lager has become a story within a story. Everyone knows about Audrey's illness, but we were lucky she pulled through and now we want to help others in similar situations.
"The feedback has been that Leishman Lager tastes great. It's got potential to go big here in the US and it'd be amazing if we could almost fund the charity, and its various programs, from the beer."
Leishman aims for the beer to be available in Australia within two years, but concedes it would have to be brewed in Victoria.
The 35-year-old from Warrnambool says the beer's launch is exciting but his attention this week is on the US PGA Tour's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, in Connecticut.
Leishman earned his first career PGA Tour win at the 2012 Travelers and his rising profile has been rewarded by being grouped in the opening two rounds with superstars Spieth and Mickelson.
"Obviously, Phil is a great player; he and Jordan are multiple major winners," Leishman said. "I expect there to be decent crowds but that has always helped me focus and play better."
Leishman is joined in the Travelers field by fellow big-name Australian Jason Day, playing his second event with accomplished caddie Steve Williams having debuted the New Zealander on the bag at last week's US Open.
Other Australians in the field include Matt Jones, Rod Pampling, Curtis Luck, Cameron Smith, Aaron Baddeley and Cameron Davis.
Headlining the Travelers are major champions Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Francesco Molinari and Justin Thomas, as well as recent PGA Tour winners Bryson DeChambeau and Paul Casey.
0 comments