In the second part of his look back on 30 appearances at Augusta National, Sandy Lyle reflects on the greatest shot of his career and how winning the Masters Tournament in 1988 changed his life forever...
There have been countless iconic moments at Augusta National over the years but for sheer drama and emotion, few can match Sandy Lyle’s finish to win the 1988 Masters Tournament.
Lyle makes his 30th visit to Augusta next week – the most of and European player – but for the Scot, one appearance, and one shot in particular, stands apart from them all.
The date was Sunday, April 10, 1988 and the gaze of the golfing was firmly fixed on Georgia, where Lyle was attempting to become the first Briton to win the Green Jacket.
Having captured The Claret Jug at Royal St Georges three years previously, Lyle once more found himself in Major Championship contention when he reached Amen Corner with a two-stroke lead.
However his seemingly solid challenge began to unravel with a bogey on the 11th which preceded a watery grave and subsequent double bogey on the 12th, meaning Lyle stood on the 15th tee one shot behind American Mark Calcavecchia.
After holing a reinvigorating 15ft birdie putt on the 16th to negate that deficit and making par on the 17th, he walked to the 18th knowing that a three would more than likely secure the coveted Green Jacket.
Lyle intended to lay-up short of the two left-hand fairway bunkers but with the adrenalin pumping he carried his one iron tee shot straight into the sand.
With playing partner Ben Crenshaw already struggling on Augusta National’s iconic closing hole, Lyle’s mental resolve came under severe scrutiny but a favourable lie gave him the conviction to play what would become the greatest shot of his career.
With 146 yards to the pin, Lyle knew a seven iron was the ideal club. Keeping his balance, he produced the near-perfect stroke, jumping from the bunker to see the outcome as growing cheers from the crowd greeted the balls pitch on the green 30feet past the flag, followed by a languid descent downhill coming to rest 10ft from the hole.
From there, Lyle rolled in the clinching birdie and broke into a joyous dance which has become almost as memorable as the remarkable bunker shot that preceded it.
In the pantheon of great golf shots, Lyle’s seven iron is right up there and 23 years on, his memory of that decisive finale remains as crisp as the Augusta greens.
“The way I won the tournament from out the bunker has been replayed and replayed and is etched in many people’s minds,” said Lyle.
“It’s one of the great bunker shots. There’s hardly a week goes by that I’m not reminded about. Each week I play in Pro-Ams and the guys will say “oh yeah, I remember that five iron from the bunker”. And I’ll say, well seven iron actually, but they still remember that bunker shot.
“It has stayed in a lot of people’s memories. I’m still the only person to make a birdie from the bunker on the 18th – there has been a few birdies on the 18th to win the Masters since I’ve done it, O’Meara and Mickelson, but not from the bunker. So it was something a little different.
“I’m always reminded about the Masters and that’s great. That just shows the importance of the tournament. You can win all around the world but the Masters really counts.
“Winning the Masters was a schoolboy dream and I achieved it.”
Lyle’s victory heralded a four year long British domination of the Masters Tournament, with Sir Nick Faldo capturing the Green Jacket in 1989 and 1990 and Ian Woosnam succeeding him in 1991.
The 18 time European Tour champion was arguably at the peak of his powers when he blazed that particular trail. Having secured his first tournament victory anywhere since 1992 in the recent ISPS Handa Senior Masters presented by Mission Hills China on the European Senior Tour, Lyle is looking forward to his 30th Augusta visit – and 23rd as a former Champion – as well as another opportunity to be at close – but hopefully not too close – proximity to the bunker he has become inextricably linked with.
“I’ve had a couple of weeks to practice and maximise my distance in the air as there is no run on the fairway it is usually all carry,” said the 53 year old. “I’ve been continuing to the work on the short game that worked so well in China. I’ve also been trying to keep fit and work on the legs as it’s quite a long course. You know you’ve walked 18 holes when you play at Augusta!”
