Four years after capturing a maiden PGA Tour victory with success at the 2012 Travelers and Marc Leishman has muscled his way towards a hopeful second championship victory at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Leishman, 32 added a two under par 68 to his opening 65 to move into a four way tie at the top of the board in the $US 6.6m.

The Virginia Beach-based Leishman joined South African Tyrone Van Aswegen (66) and the American pair of Daniel Berger (67) and Russell Henley (65) on seven under par.

However with two rounds to play in the event there is no less than 42 players within four shots of the lead.

Leishman has broken through to capture his only PGA Tour title in the event in 2012 posting a last round 62 to deny Charley Hoffman and Bubba Watson just outside the Connecticut capital of Hartford.

Marc Leishman looking to draw on memories of his 2012 Travelers Championship victory.

“It’s been a good two days but you can’t back off here,” he said.

“Generally got to be a fair few under to have a chance to win. I had a good start yesterday with 5-under and the plan going into today was put myself in a good spot and I’ve managed to achieve that, and it was especially pleasing to knock that birdie in at the last.

“I drove the ball pretty well; irons were really good; gave myself a lot of reasonably short birdie chances.

“I thought on Thursday I didn’t play the par-5s like I would’ve liked. Didn’t birdie either of those but I managed to birdie one of them today”.

Leishman has contested 124 PGA Tour events since tasting victory at the Travelers in 2012 and while he’s still seeking a second Tour title the unassuming Aussie in these four years has stamped himself as one of those destined for greater glory as evident by going so close to victory in last year’s Open Championship at St. Andrews when he found himself in a three-man four-hole play-off for the famed Claret Jug.

And now coming back to TPC Highlands Leishman is hopeful those memories from 2012 can lead to a newer chapter in his PGA Tour career.

“Any time you feel like a golf course is easy it can jump up and bite you really quickly,” he said.

“I’ve thought that in the past on certain courses and it’s jumped up and bit me.  But then there is a lot of birdies out there if you’re hitting it well and a lot of others if you’re not.

“So I feel confident enough to take on most pins, and that left me a lot of reasonably short birdie chances over the two rounds.

“And given my success here it feels like a home course for me.  The changes they’ve made haven’t really changed its feel much. They’ve just cleaned it up a bit. The bunkers look great. They’ve taken a few reeds out of the water.

“Still the same clubs off the tees and same shots into the greens. It’s got a very similar — hasn’t changed a whole lot. I like it.

“Also the same great fans. Hopefully now the same result as 2012”.