AUGUSTA, Ga. — When David Lynn walked off the ninth green yesterday, two profound events occurred. His caddie, Wayne Hussellbury, told him, “You’re leading the Masters,” and, outside the ropes, his mother cried.
Lynn, who shot a 4-under 68 to stand two shots off the lead held by Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia, smiled at Hussellbury and responded: “I’d rather be leading it Sunday afternoon.”
“It’s obviously not a bad thing to see your name up there leading the Masters and something you could always look back on,’’ Lynn said. “But you know, there’s a lot to be done for the rest of the week and hopefully I can keep my name up there.’’
Lynn is the ultimate journeyman. At age 39, the Englishman is playing his first Masters and second major championship in nine years. Last August, he was a distant runner-up to Rory McIlroy at the PGA Championship.
“I’ve been a pro for 15, 16 years … it’s taken me a golfing lifetime to get here,’’ Lynn said.
Leishman, who despite missing four of his last seven cuts, is trying to become the first Australian to win the Masters. He never has held or shared the lead after any round on the PGA Tour. This is his 114th start.
He missed the cut in his only other start in the Masters in 2010 and got into the field this week by virtue of his win last year at Hartford, where he entered the final round six shots back and shot 62 to win.
“The first time I was here I was like a deer in the headlights,’’ Leishman said. “To be here is awesome and to be sitting here is pretty cool.’’But it’s only Thursday afternoon. There is a lot of golf to play. But I feel pretty good about my game.’’
So, too, does Lynn.
“I’m just enjoying it at the moment,’’ he said. “Being on the PGA Tour, it’s been a new lease of life to my golf. [Friday] is another day and I know I’m going to have to play well again. I’m not going to sit here and say I’m going to be there Sunday night, but deep down, I know that I’ve got performances in me that could put me there Sunday night.’’