Mark Leishman misses cut hours after taking lead

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Marc Leishman birdied his first three holes Friday to take the lead at 5-under, but as the winds came up the Australian lost nine shots in nine holes to miss the cut.
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Marc Leishman acknowledges the gallery after putting on the number six green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday, April 11, 2014, in Augusta, Ga. Jon-Michael Sullivan/staff

Marc Leishman’s solo lead evaporated into a missed cut Friday.

The Australian was alone at 5-under before the wind curtailed his momentum and started a free-fall.

After he took the lead with birdie on No. 3, Leishman carded five bogeys and two double bogeys from No. 4 to No. 13, losing nine strokes in a 10-hole stretch.

“It started off good and just went, after that, went from bad to worse,” Leishman said.

Leishman, who tied for fourth at last year’s Masters Tournament, was troubled by strengthening
gusts throughout the afternoon. On No. 7, he thought his second shot would land next to the hole, but instead it came in 5 yards short of the green. On No. 9, he thought he had hit a good shot, only to see it fly past the green.

“It’s that type of course,” he said. “It’s that type of course when it’s calm. But when you put a wind like this, it’s really tough.”

Leishman said the course played as difficult as he’s seen it in his three Masters. Saturday’s third round last year, when he shot par, played firm and fast, but it didn’t have the wind like Friday’s.

A day that started with three consecutive birdies ended with his carding 41 on the second nine. Leishman went from seeing his name on the top of the leaderboard to not even making the cut, all in only a few hours.

“I saw it,” Leishman said about his name atop the leaderboard. “But it can jump up and grab you at any time.”