Australian Marc Leishman has taken a two-shot lead midway through the first round of the Masters at Augusta National.

Leishman fired a six-under-par 66 to be two clear of Englishman David Lynn who sits second after a 68.

Looking to be the first Australian to win the coveted green jacket, Leishman opened with a nervous bogey but birdied the third hole to get back square with par before making a huge move around the turn and deep on the back nine.

The Victorian birdied the par-five eighth to open his front nine in 35 before gaining another shot with birdie on the difficult 10th hole.

The 29-year-old then went on an absolute blitz with four consecutive birdies from holes 13 through 16.

He dropped an eight-foot birdie on the 13th, fired in a precision approach on the 14th to inside a metre where the subsequent birdie tied him for the lead.

He then claimed sole possession with a neat little chip shot to close on the 15th and put the hammer down with a 40-foot bomb of a birdie across the 16th green.

A clutch six-foot par save after finding the bunker on the 17th allowed him to maintain his momentum and he cleverly made a two-putt par on the last to sign for his 66.

Jim Furyk sits third after the American carded a 69, tied with South Korean K.J. Choi who is through 16 holes.

Adam Scott has two birdies and a bogey early to be one under par while John Senden is also one under through 15 holes.

Jason Day is even par through 12 to complete the Australian contingent.