WARRNAMBOOL'S Marc Leishman was on track for a course record in his comeback tournament before bad weather forced a halt to the second round of the US PGA Tour event in Louisiana.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Leishman, who returned to the Tour this week after taking a month off to tend to family when his wife became gravely ill, has one hole to play to complete his round on Sunday (AEST) at the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana.
He was 10-under-par for his round after 17 holes, needing a birdie on the 18th, to set a new course record. But his second shot to the par five 18th found a greenside water hazard and after taking a penalty, chipped to just short of the green when play was halted because of storms.
With his wife, Audrey, recovering, Leishman came to New Orleans saying he just wanted to "knock off some rust."
He did a lot better than that and is now in line for a nice pay-day, given officials were estimating the cut line at four-under.
"Hopefully, I'll hole out or get up and down for bogey," Leishman said of his plan when play resumes.
"It was a good day, my expectations were pretty much non-existent this week.
"It's just good to be out there and knock the cobwebs off.
"Today, I hit some good shots and holed some putts and all of a sudden you're 10-under."
Leishman went on a birdie blitz in his second round after opening with a two-over 74.
He made five consecutive birdies between the ninth and 13th holes. he parred the 14th and then made birdies on 15 and 16 to make it seven birdies in eight holes. He stormed from two over at the start of the day to be sitting in a tie for 14th at eight under par, three behind the leaders. His efforts saw him climb 116 places on the leaderboard.
His birdie on the 16th included a spectacular 17-foot putt from off the green.
Leishman's compatriot Jason Day was six under for the day through 14 holes and sits at 10 under for the tournament, placing him one shot behind American leaders Hudson Swafford and Boo Weekley.
Day is locked in a five-way tie for third while fellow Aussie Steven Bowditch is one shot behind the world No.6 at nine under in a tie for eighth with six players.