Ripper GC’s Marc Leishman can count on playing in at least one major in 2025.

The 41-year-old Australian earned entry into the 2025 Open Championship by finishing inside the top-three Sunday at the Australian Open.

Leishman’s last major start was the 2022 Open, which was won by his Ripper Captain Cameron Smith. Shortly after, both players joined LIV Golf.

Smith’s victory in 2022 assured him of entry into every major for at least five years, but Leishman had not qualified for one until Sunday at Kingston Heath when he tied for third at 14 under behind winner Ryggs Johnston.

Although he shared third with fellow Australian Jasper Stubbs, Leishman claimed the final available spot due to a higher world ranking. Leishman, currently ranked 575th, was a top-60 player when he joined LIV Golf and has remained one of the league’s most consistent performers.

“It’d be nice not to have to do the qualifier,” Leishman told the media after his final-round 68. “36 holes in one day at my age is not a lot of fun.”

Leishman has three top-six finishes in 10 Open starts, including a tie for second in 2015. The 2025 Open is set for July 17-20 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Leishman missed the cut in 2019 when Portrush last hosted the Open.

“Very excited to get back to Portrush,” Leishman said. “I had a great time there last time, didn’t play great but I really like the course. I can’t wait to get back there and enjoy Northern Ireland.”

Leishman was the highest finisher of the four LIV Golf players competing at the Australian Open. Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann finished T5 in his title defense; Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert also tied for fifth after starting the final round with a share of the lead; and Smith finished T39.

Smith, seeking his first Australian Open title was trending well after close calls in his first three starts on his four-tournament summer stretch in his home country, including a solo second last week at the Australian PGA. But after his opening-round 65 on Thursday and a strong second-round start, he shot 5-over on his final nine holes and could never recover.

“That back nine on Friday really just kind of hurt and it was kind of hard to get over,” Smith told reporters Sunday. “I was frustrated and angry that whole night, got a terrible sleep, up all night thinking about it, and it was just hard to get back into the rhythm of things.

“I feel like I did a lot right, particularly in the three weeks before this and when you have the nine holes like that, when it kind of comes out of the blue like it did, it’s just really frustrating.”