Leish strikes back after an early wobble
by Mark Hayes on Pebble Beach
Marc Leishman on Thursday at 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach.
Marc Leishman said pre-US Open, there was no point in running him out of the blocks.
But when slowly and stably turned into an early stumble after he started on the 10th tee, the great Victorian knew he had to respond.
"Yes, (I) started off quite normally," said Leishman, who had a number of strong bounces near greens in 10th and 12th position to fall right right away.
"I didn't do much wrong, but I knew that if I kept making good shots, they would eventually have to come."
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Leishman rolled in a smooth 6m putt for birdie on the par-four 13th, then two putted the 18th for a second birdie to return to the square.
But it was a great tee shot to 2m in the par-three fifth, allowing him to follow his last two-under-par total of 69.
Birdies followed on the sixth and seventh, only injuring the rally with a bogey on his last, the hard ninth.
"The course could be held there and it was fun to fight back and to photograph a few," he said.
His 2018 World Cup teammate Cam Smith from Queensland concluded his round with a bird on the 18th hole to climb back to par, good hunting.