Playing with Reed in the final group on Saturday, Leishman struck the ball beautifully but a cold putter cruelled his chances at donning the green jacket this week.

World No.16 Leishman carded a one-over-par 73 to fall to six under and a distant eight shots off the pace.

Overnight leader Reed showed no signs of nerves atop the famous white and green leaderboards during a round of 67, which catapulted him to 14 under.

Marc Leishman was great from tee to green but couldn't make a putt in round three. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Leishman started moving day just two shots behind Reed and gave himself every chance, hitting 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

But a series of missed birdie putts from short range stalled his charge.

"I hit a lot of good putts; they just weren't going in ... it wasn't my day," Leishman said, settling for a share of sixth.

"That was pretty much the story of the day; I hit it well enough to shoot a really good score, but it just wasn't meant to be."

Cameron Smith was four under for the day until two late bogies halted his run. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Queensland’s Cameron Smith was climbing the leaderboard and almost aced the par-3 16th, his tee shot leaving him a tap-in birdie.

But bogies on the 17th and 18th left the 24-year-old at three under after a 70.

"Yeah, it's pretty frustrating," Smith said.

"I feel as though I played really solid golf for 16 holes but the driver let me down those last two holes and put me in positions you really don't get away with."

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