Leishman moves ahead of Lynn at the Masters

Augusta, GA – Australian Marc Leishman fired a 6-under 66 Thursday to move two strokes clear of the field during the first round of the Masters.

Leishman, who won the Travelers Championship last year to get into the field, is making his second start at Augusta National and it is initially proving to be a far better start than his first one.

In his first appearance at the Masters, Leishman shot 72-79 and missed the cut by five strokes.

David Lynn was in the lead at 4-under 68 until Leishman went by him.

Lynn, who hails from England, is making his first appearance at Augusta National.

Former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson are tied for third at minus-3. They were joined there by Sergio Garcia, who is quickly 3-under through 7 holes.

Kevin Na and former PGA Champion David Toms posted 2-under 70s. They were joined there by Tim Clark, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose, K.J. Choi and Lee Westwood, who overcame a double-bogey on the first hole.

Four-time champ Tiger Woods tripped to a bogey at the 14th to slip to minus-2. He has three holes remaining in his first round.

Leishman opened with a bogey on the first. He erased that mistake with a birdie on the par-4 third. He birdied the ninth to make the turn at minus-1.

The Australian made it two in a row with a birdie on the 10th. After a pair of pars, Leishman caught fire.

He birdied the par-5 13th and followed with another on the 14th. Leishman also birdied the par-5 15th and converted his fourth consecutive birdie at the 16th. He parred out to lead by two.

Ryan Moore, John Peterson, Ryo Ishikawa and 2011 champion Charl Schwartzel posted 1-under 71s, while Russell Henley and 2003 winner Mike Weir stand at even-par.

Defending champion Bubba Watson is 3-over through 11 holes. Reigning U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson carded a 73, while British Open winner Ernie Els (even- par) and PGA Champion Rory McIlroy (minus-1) are still on the front nine.