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Marc Leishman was irritated at three-putting the last hole but an even-par 72 has him well in the mix after his first round at the Masters.

A three-putt on the last hole has left Marc Leishman "fuming" but Australia's form player this year says it will fire him up to have a hot second round at the Masters.

Leishman hit the par-4 18th in two but the three-putt bogey prevented him from finishing under par.

An even-par 72 has the world No.20 six shots behind first-round co-leaders Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

Leishman's rollercoaster scorecard contained five birdies, three bogeys and a momentum-crippling double-bogey six at the par-4 10th moments after he had made the turn in one under.

"There's something about three-putting the last hole that always makes you walk off with a few fumes coming out where they shouldn't be," Leishman said.

"When you're having doubles and three putts and a few average shots, it was hard.

"But even par is not the worst start in the world, it's not far back at all.

"It's just disappointing because I felt like I could have shot five or six under today."

Leishman, who finished ninth at last year's Masters and tied fourth behind countryman Adam Scott when he won in 2013, has backed his stellar form on the US PGA Tour this season to return in time for Friday's second round.

Leishman is the only Australian to win a PGA Tour event this season and has three top-four results in the US this year.

It is also his seventh Masters and the 35-year-old knows a Thursday 72 has given him a chance to remain in contention.

"My game's really good, I'm playing well," he said.

"With 54 holes to go, I think I'm still a pretty good chance."