A HORROR third round by Marc Leishman has seen the Warrnambool golfer miss the cut for the first time on the 2010 US PGA Tour.
The 26-year-old contested his third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Monterey Peninsula golf course yesterday.
It came after a reasonable second round on Saturday which mirrored his opening day as he fired a two-under-par 70 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
But he wasn't able to keep his momentum rolling.
Leishman started off the front nine at the par-70 Monterey Peninsula, which this year replaced Poppy Hills golf course in the three-course rotation of the $US6.1 million tournament.
He carded four bogeys on the first nine holes.
Bogeys on the 14th and 15th had him at an uncharacteristic six-over before successive birdies.
A bogey on the par-four 18th saw him finish at five-over-par 75.
He was one-over-par 215 after three rounds.
Players who were four-under progressed to today's final round.
The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was Leishman's fourth tournament of the year.
He finished tied for 20th, tied for second and tied for 15th in his opening three tournaments.
Australian Matt Jones maintained a promising start to the 2010 US PGA Tour season as he put himself in contention for the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am title.
The 29-year-old from Sydney fired a four-under-par 66 on the Monterey Peninsula course to be tied in third place going into the final round.
Jones' round followed earlier scores of five-under 67 at both Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach and took him to 14 under ? but four shots adrift of joint leaders Dustin Johnson and Paul Goydos.
Playing with partial tour status, Jones has begun the season well and already has an eighth placing at the Bob Hope Classic worth $US150,000 ($A168,425) to his credit.
Long-hitting Johnson, the defending champion, eagled the 595-yard first hole at Spyglass, where he sank a 20-foot putt from the fringe, and kept a share of the lead despite a three-putt bogey on his closing hole as he shot eight-under 64.
Goydos matched his 64 at Pebble Beach with a round that was highlighted by a eight-foot eagle putt at the second and included birdies at two of his final three holes.
Jones was tied with two more Americans JB Holmes and Bryce Molder who both had 68s at Spyglass Hill.
Goydos said he would try not be demoralised by Johnson's impressive length off the tee when they play together Sunday in the final round at Pebble Beach ? which will host this year's US Open in June.
"You know, it is what it is. I don't know if 'ignore' is the right word, but you appreciate.
"I'm going to appreciate his play, but you go out and play your game, too," Goydos said.
"I have to do things differently than he does, and he's got to do things differently than I do."
For his part, Johnson said he appreciated Goydos' ability to post a score.
"His game is definitely a little bit different than mind, and he finds a way to get it done," Johnson said.
"It doesn't matter how far you hit it or where you hit it. You've just got to find a way to get it in the hole. Whoever can get it in the hole tomorrow is going to come out with the victory."
David Duval had a 67 and was tied for seventh, while Phil Mickelson had a 69 at Pebble Beach and was eight shots off the pace.
Saturday's star attraction was the weather and the magnificent Pacific coast, where giant swells crashed against the rocks at Pebble Beach.
with AAP
Email a friend