Marc Leishman finally claimed the breakthrough victory he had been chasing since joining LIV Golf, coming from behind to secure the individual title at LIV Golf Miami and playing a crucial role in guiding Ripper GC to the team triumph.

The 41-year-old Australian, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour and one of LIV Golf's early recruits back in 2022, delivered a composed final round of 68 to finish at six-under-par 210 at the challenging Trump National Doral. Starting the day three shots behind leader Bryson DeChambeau, Leishman used patience and precision to rise up the leaderboard and seal his first individual victory on the Saudi-backed tour.

It wasn’t just a personal win for Leishman. His steady play on Sunday also propelled Ripper GC — the all-Australian team captained by Masters contender Cameron Smith and featuring Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones — to an emphatic team victory. They finished at four-over for the week, a full eight shots clear of DeChambeau’s Crushers GC.

The win ended a lengthy title drought for Leishman, who has been in the mix on several occasions in LIV events but had fallen short — most recently with a disappointing showing in Singapore where he tied for 51st.

"Of course you doubt yourself, especially after a week like I had in Singapore," Leishman admitted. "I played terribly. I've played well in a lot of LIV events. I've had chances to win, haven't won. You wonder if you're going to win again.

"It's been the greatest. I've been so happy. I've been the happiest person out here."

On Sunday, Leishman got off to a fast start, carding four birdies in his opening 10 holes. While he didn’t record another birdie after the 10th, he held steady with eight consecutive pars on a course known for its difficulty, particularly under the windy conditions in Miami. His level-headedness in the closing stretch proved decisive.

The biggest challenge came from South African Charl Schwartzel, who surged into contention with a sizzling 66. Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, applied late pressure but came up just one stroke short.

Sergio Garcia also momentarily threatened to force a playoff. After birdieing the 17th to get to five-under for the tournament, Garcia’s hopes were dashed at the final hole when he found water off the tee and closed with a bogey. That left him in solo third at four-under after a final-round 71.

"I knew he'd birdied 17. I always watch the leaderboards," Leishman said of Garcia. "I saw that. I'm like, 'Wow, I need to birdie this.' I knew Charl had one to play, so that was a birdie hole today."

Even though Leishman didn't find another birdie, the leaderboard pressure did not shake his focus. His closing stretch of pars held up as enough to secure the individual crown.

Cameron Smith, who has consistently led Ripper GC through LIV's team competition format, praised Leishman’s resilience and quality.

"It just goes to show the player he is," Smith said. "I think he's been knocking on the door now for a few years, and whether things haven't gone his way or he hasn't had the greatest back nine, it was nice to see him out there in really tough conditions today on probably the toughest golf course we've played and get it done."

DeChambeau, the overnight leader, couldn’t replicate his earlier form and saw his title hopes fade with a closing 74. He ultimately fell to fifth place at two under, a disappointing end to what had been a promising weekend.

Ripper GC’s win was powered by a team-wide effort. Alongside Leishman’s 68, Cameron Smith (72), Lucas Herbert (72), and Matt Jones (73) combined to finish five-under as a group on the day — the best of any team in the final round. Their total of four-over was well clear of the competition, showing how crucial consistent scoring was in the brutal Doral conditions.

Leishman’s victory marks a turning point in his LIV journey and could well reignite his competitive edge on the international stage. With the LIV schedule heating up and majors on the horizon, this win could serve as a springboard for a strong 2025.