Masters Sandy Lyle
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Sandy Lyle, who was 50 in February, reminded us that Augusta National – despite all the course changes – still suits the experienced campaigner. The quietly spoken Scot rolled back the years, 20 years after winning round here, by shooting an even par 72, which could have been even better.
He made four birdies early in his round and looked very at ease with himself, until hopelessly over-clubbing at the 15th, hitting his approach well over the green and under a television tower, from where he made a bogey. He then made further bogeys at the 16th and 18th.
In the three Champions Tour events Sandy has played so far this year he has played solidly without setting the world alight, with finishes of T54th, T40th and T25th. And there was little in his past few visits to Augusta to suggest the sort of form he produced. In fact, in the 19 years he has been back since claiming the Green Jacket, he has missed the cut on no fewer than 12 times and never finished in the top 20. Let’s hope he can hang in there over the weekend.
