WARRNAMBOOL'S Marc Leishman has opened his 2020 Memorial Tournament with an even-par round in Ohio on Friday morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The 36-year-old battled blustery conditions at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club to fire an opening round 72.
Leishman, who was last week cut at the Workday Charity Open, hit 10 of 18 greens during the round to sit tied for 25th.
Listen to this week's edition of The Standard's football podcast - The Main Break
The south-west's greatest golfing export is six shots behind leader American Tony Finau.
Finau, who fired a six-under round of 66, leads countrymen Ryan Palmer (five-under), Brendan Steele and Gary Woodland (three-under).
Leishman is the highest placed Australian with Jason Day (one-over in 42nd), Cameron Smith and Jason Scrivener (two-over in 59th) further back.
Starting on the back nine Leishman fired two birdies on the par-4 13th and another on the par-5 15th to head into the back end of his round at two-under the card.
His luck didn't continue on his final nine holes. The Virginia Beach-based Australian hit four bogeys on the first, fourth, sixth and eighth holes.
But two birdies on the par-4 third and par-5 seventh saved him from ending the round over the card.
Leishman's second round begins at 9.33pm AEST on Friday night. He will be teeing off from the first with Korean pair Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
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.
