Leishman urges crowd to turn up noise at Presidents Cup

The Warrnambool export - paired with Chinese Taipei golfer Haotong Li for the third day of action - said his teammates were feeding off a passionate crowd.

On Saturday, Leishman and Li will play world number five Justin Thomas and high-profile American Rickie Fowler.

Leishman's International team kept a three-point lead over their American rivals following early form on day two at Royal Melbourne.

Leishman's day one defeat was consigned to the history books, the 36-year-old teaming with Mexican Abraham Ancer to stun Webb Simpson and controversial American Patrick Reed.

But the Americans rallied late, draining two clutch putts to keep their campaign alive.

Patrick Cantlay, who dropped a long-range bomb to gift Team USA a point on the last hole of his match, said momentum was now firmly with the Americans.

Leishman disagreed.

"What are we? Six and a half points to three and half points up? It's very early. They were tied, and they made a couple good putts on 18, definitely give them that," he said.

"But I don't think you get momentum with two putts. We played pretty well the first two sessions.

"(Friday) probably didn't finish off the way we wanted to but we still halved the session. We know it's 18-hole matches and you have to be right there at the end.

"They made a couple putts at an important time, so if they feel that, that's great. We probably don't feel that way."

Leading into day three, the former Brauer College student said vocal support would drive the internationals as they vied to break a 21-year Presidents Cup drought.

"The crowds have been amazing, numbers-wise and passion. They have been very supportive of the International team as you would expect," he said.

"I think it's the first Presidents Cup - I played in Korea (in 2015) - but it's the first Presidents Cup that I've played where there's been a true home-crowd advantage.

"That's what we wanted and I think that's what we really need."

Leishman said more strong golf was required to deny the Tiger Woods-led Americans from their eighth-straight Presidents Cup.

"The Americans have got a really strong team, so we knew they were going to be tough, very tough competition, and we'd have to play really well to beat them," he said.

"We certainly haven't done that yet but I think we're on the right track.

"We need to keep improving because we know their jet-lag is going to start wearing off, and I'm sure they will start firing up." Leishman's day three round - in four-ball format - begins at 7.02am on Saturday.