Warrnambool's Marc Leishman has made a small recovery in the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Saturday following a horror start to the tournament the day before.
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The 35-year-old kept his chances at the tournament alive when he finished the second day at two-under-par after shooting a round of 70 at the Bay Hills Golf Course.
He is tied for 31st with 11 others including Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy at two-under, while England's Tommy Fleetwood and American Keegan Bradley are tied for the lead seven shots ahead of the Australia at nine-under.
Leishman, who hit three birdies, only had one slip up through his 18 holes when he finished the par-four eighth with a bogey.
"I wouldn't say I'm thrilled with two-under, but it was pretty good considering; I probably got the best score out of my performance," the Warrnambool export told AAP.
"The greens might dry out and the afternoon wave might have a bit of trouble with how fast they will get and the difficult pin positions."
The world number 18 hit 11 of 18 greens in regulation, to build confidence on the Bay Hill course's notoriously difficult thick rough and fast putting surfaces.
On Friday Leishman hit his tee-shot on the 521-yard par-five sixth hole but was unaware it had not crossed the water hazard until he was halfway up the fairway.
It meant he had to turn around and walk 274 metres back to the tee to reload for what would be his third shot, which he later described as the "walk of shame".
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
