Leish hisses only for Aussies

Marc Leishman ticks off at the Austin Country Club.

Marc Leishman made a down payment on reaching the World Match Play knockout phase, but it wasn't clear news for the other Aussies in Texas today.

Cameron Smith and Jason Day prematurely end the WGC event at the Austin Country Club after both Queenslanders lost their second consecutive games today.

Smith again led early, and sat 2-up by five against Australian Open champion Abraham Ancer.

But the Mexican recovered very well and remained in their group 10 match in competition with a 3 & 2 victory.

Day, who was treated for a back injury after yesterday's opening loss to Jim Furyk, returned looking healthier, but was no match for Henrik Stenson, who won 4 & 3.

Day won only one gap against the former Open champion who will have a confrontation with Furyk tomorrow to determine the winner of Group 12.

The only Aussie success belonged to Leishman.

The Victorian effectively eliminated Scotland's Knox with a 2-up victory to take the top spot in Group 6, culminating a near-albatross on the par-five 12th after he bombed a 388m descent.

Leishman will face Bryson DeChambeau in the final pool game tomorrow, guaranteed of at least one playoff and knowing that a half against the American will be enough to advance to the knockout phase.

WGC LEADERBOARD