Marc Leishman endured an unusual week at the WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay in Texas, the Victorian advancing to the round of 16 in strange circumstances before falling to an in form Phil Mickelson.

Leishman, drawn in the same pool as fellow Australian Jason Day, opened his account on day one with an impressive win over Ryder Cup stalwart Lee Westwood but stumbled on day two against firey American Pat Perez.

But because of Day’s emotional withdrawal through six holes of the first round, Leishman had an unexpected rest day Friday and was forced to sit on the sidelines as Westwood and Perez played a match that would determine the fate of all three.

After two days of competition Leishman had amassed two points as had Perez and if Westwood could overcome the American on day three the trio would head for a strokeplay play-off to determine who would go through.

The Englishman delivered with a 2 & 1 result and despite being at a disadvantage having not hit a shot under the gun all day it was Leishman who prevailed.

He continued the sort of play that had won him the Arnold Palmer Invitational just five days earlier and with a birdie at the second playoff hole booked a place in the round of 16.

Leishman met US veteran Phil Mickelson on Saturday morning and while the Australian wasn’t at his best Mickelson, who had played superb golf all week, was in rare form.

The five-time major winner hadn’t been taken to the 16^th tee in pool play and maintained that perfect record when he accounted for Leishman on the 15^th green by 4 & 3.

It was a solid performance from Leishman who had just two days to recover from his biggest career win the week before at Bay Hill with the Matchplay starting Wednesday instead of Thursday and will also have given the Victorian plenty of confidence heading to Augusta next week.