A double-bogey six on the par-four 16th hole derailed Leishman’s second round.

Playing in benign conditions, he posted a one-under-par round of 71, which left him at level par for the tournament, one outside the projected cut of minus one, at the time of going to press.

After posting a one-over par 73 on the opening day, Leishman climbed to two-under midway through his second round after three birdies in six holes.

He made consecutive birdies on the par-three 11th and par-four 12th. But the double-bogey on the par-four 16th saw him slide to a tie for 77th with half the field yet to tee off, 12 shots behind young South African Louis Oosthuizen, who backed up his opening round of seven-under 65 with a five-under 67.

“It was a shocking shot and I deserved what I got,” Leishman said of his slip up on 16.

“But I think even par should be good enough with what’s happening out there now.

“Hopefully it’s good enough, anyway, and I get into the weekend and go from there because I’m playing good enough to hopefully have a real low one.

“But we’ll see. It would just be nice to be playing.”

While Leishman had to contend with rain, sunshine and gentle breezes during his second round, winds were strengthening with half the field yet to tee off, potentially helping Leishman in his quest to make the cut.

The top 70 players plus ties qualify for today’s third round and tomorrow’s final 18-holes.

With 75 players yet to tee off when Leishman finished his round, he will be relying on the conditions to make his first cut at a major.

Leishman’s ball-striking was a feature of his second round, hitting 16 greens in regulation, one less than the 17 he hit in Thursday’s opening round.