Lynn looking forward to more limelight

New world No.40 to take up starting spot at 2013 PGA and Masters

Major contender: David Lynn finished runner-up at the US PGA Championship, only his second major

While Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship, the prize for the most surprising performance goes to the runner-up. David Lynn’s weekend charge up the leaderboard, with a pair of 68s, to finish on 283, five under par, left the 38-year-old Englishman in second place on his own, in only his second appearance in a major, 15 years after joining the European Tour.

They’re not even sure who Lynn is in his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, let alone on Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Lynn is not accustomed to interruptions in restaurants, or when he stands in a queue in the post office. The first line of his bio in the PGA Championship media guide reads: “Finished inside the European Tour’s top-90 for a 12th consecutive season in 2011”. Not a lot of bait on that hook.

Well, we’d better get used to seeing a bit more of Lynn now. Having finished runner-up in his first ever tournament in the United States, with a cheque for $865,000 to go with it, Lynn has not only already earned his place in the field for the 2013 PGA Championship, but he can also prepare to receive an invitation to the 2013 Masters at Augusta.

“Getting into the Masters is just a dream come true,” said Lynn, whose sole tour victory came at the 2004 KLM Open on the European Tour. “Seeing Augusta as many times as I have, it’s like I already know the place, yet I’ve never even been there. It is going to be amazing.”

Lynn, whose only other major appearance came at the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s, when he finished in a tie for 53rd, began the 2012 PGA Championship in an ordinary fashion, with a first round of 73, one over par. A second round of 74, two over par, was more impressive as it was put together in strong winds on the Ocean Course, and set the tone for the weekend.

“My game had been feeling like it had turned a corner a bit,” said Lynn. “I turned up this week and practice felt good, and then you just hope you can take your practice into the tournament, which I managed to do.”

Looking ahead, Lynn will never have enjoyed organising his tournament schedule so much.

Story courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, official car of the 2012 PGA Championship

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered