The eight-under round of 64 has pushed the Aussie to nine under overall and within one shot of overnight leader Dustin Johnson (-10), who previously held the best round of the tournament when he fired a seven-under 65 on the opening day.

Despite the rain, it was a much friendlier conditions for the players as the winds dropped, allowing Leishman to make his run to within one of Johnson, who was yet to tee off when Leishman finished his round.

The 31-year-old fired four birdies on each nine. A birdie on the last would have seen him tie the lowest round ever recorded in a major.

Leishman, who began the day at one under, struggled in the second round shooting one over, but he turned it all around in an impressive outing on the Old Course.

Leishman said the benign conditions set stage for his memorable round.

"I think getting out with no wind was amazing. We played Thursday afternoon, or I played Thursday afternoon, and it was really, really windy, really strong, and then Friday morning it was strong, as well," he said.

"So we played all 36 holes in a pretty heavy wind. So to get out with no wind, it makes everything a lot easier, but particularly putting. You can be over a 15-footer and actually feel like you're going to make it rather than being worried about getting a gust and it going five feet past.

"You don't want five-footers when you've got that wind. Definitely knew that there was a score out there to be had."