While he would love to see the Stonehaven Cup played at different courses around the country, he laughs at the suggestion his pretty hometown at the end of Victoria’s Great Ocean Rd should be added to the rota.

“I don’t know if Warrnambool could handle an Australian Open, but that would be cool,” Leishman smiles.

“Being an Australian Open I think it would be good if it moved around Australia. Obviously, I’m partial to the Melbourne Sandbelt but there are great courses right around Australia. I’d be happy to go to Perth and Adelaide, but you need to have that sponsorship and state government backing … but that’s beyond my pay grade.”

In Marc Leishman’s ideal world, he and his LIV Golf colleagues should receive world ranking points in LIV events. That, given the silence from the powers at be overseeing the ranking and the gaping chasm between the warring parties running the men’s professional game, just as likely as Warrnambool hosting the Australian Open.

“I think it’s important that we get them, otherwise they’ll be obsolete,” Leishman said. “There are a lot of great players on LIV that are near the top of the rankings and I think they deserve to get points because they are playing against very good fields and they’re hard tournaments to win.

“One of the things that we knew when we went over to LIV was that there might not be world ranking points and that was one of the things I certainly took into account when making a decision.

“I’ll go about my business and if we get them – which I hope we do – I would love that and if not, I don't know what will happen if not, but I think it should happen.”

Marc Leishman is living in his ideal world. PHOTO: Getty Images.

In Marc Leishman’s ideal world, he could talk all day about playing golf and brewing beer.

But he’s one of the stars of LIV Golf and, therefore, the topic is never far from the surface when fronting the media.

Should Greg Norman step away, like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, have suggested?

“I think Greg’s done a good job, he’s got the players,” Leishman replied with all the crispness of a well-struck 7-iron.

“I think it’s something that everyone’s got an opinion on and they’re certainly entitled to that.  I’m just enjoying where I’m at, at the moment.

“I’m happy to go about my career quietly, not get into all that stuff. Like I say, I’m just enjoying myself and excited to be here this week to try and win an Australian Open.”

What about the majors? What if you can’t get into them and you’re only playing a select few tournaments a year?

“They’re great tournaments,” he says. “I knew what I was giving up when I made that decision, and the transition has been a really good one.  I’ve really enjoyed it.

“Obviously, the PGA Tour is a great product, and I will miss that a little bit, but having said that, I’ve really enjoyed my first five events on the LIV Tour and certainly don’t have any regrets.”

Despite the mandatory interrogation of all things LIV Golf, Leishman was rarely without a smile during his eleven and a half minutes chatting with the media after his pro-am round.

"So definitely I’ve got a lot of incentive to play well, not only to try and win an Australian Open but to try and give them something to cheer about and smile about."

The smile did broaden when talking about the joys of being home In Victoria to play the Australian Open in front of friends and family.

“The game’s feeling good. Excited to be not only back in Melbourne, but back on the Sandbelt playing courses that I love and enjoy the style of golf,” Leishman said.

“One of the things that I haven’t managed to do in my career so far, is win one of the big events in Australia and certainly an Australian Open is probably the top of that list, particularly in Melbourne. To do that here would be huge and I hope I can just play well enough to give myself that chance.

“There’ll be a lot of family coming out, my sister and her husband and kids are coming up.  I’ve got cousins and friends that I haven’t seen for over three years that I’ll see on the golf course probably tomorrow or at some point during the week.

“So definitely I’ve got a lot of incentive to play well, not only to try and win an Australian Open but to try and give them something to cheer about and smile about.”

In Marc Leishman’s ideal world, he wins the Australian Open on Sunday in front of his greatest fans, which seems far more likely than Warrnambool Golf Club getting hosting rights for the Australian Open. Sorry Warrnambool.