MARC Leishman has a fight on his hands as he searches for a way to storm back into contention at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
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The 35-year-old, who will play alongside countrymen Jason Day and Cameron Smith at this year's Australian Open in December, fired a one-over round of 71 at East Lake Golf Course to sit tied for 23rd on par.
With the new handicap format for the FedEx Cup tournament the top ranked player on the standings, Justin Thomas, began the week at 10-under par, the second seed at eight-under and working back from there.
Leishman started at one-under but three bogeys through his first round were almost erased with a last-ditch eagle on the pat-5 18th, helping him lose only one stroke heading into day two.
The Warrnambool export, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens in regulation during his opening round, is 10 shots behind joint American leaders Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka.
Fellow Australian Adam Scott is locked in 11th place with American Gary Woodland at five-under after starting the tournament three-under.
The Tour Championship has a cool $US 60 million in prizemoney on the line.
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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.
