Phillip Price birdied the final two holes at The Marquess Course to take a two stroke lead into the third round of the Victor Chandler British Masters on a day when the sun finally shone on Woburn Golf & Country Club in general and on Sandy Lyle in particular.
Lyle, winner of the 1985 Open Championship and the first British winner of the Masters Tournament three years later, matched Price’s seven under par 65 to show signs of a return to the sort of form to which Price has long aspired.
The Welshman, a Ryder Cup rookie at The De Vere Belfry in September, leads the tournament with an 11 under par total of 133, two ahead of local resident Ian Poulter, by three from England’s Phil Golding with Lyle sharing fourth place on 137 with two other players.
Price, by his own admission, has struggled to recapture his form since qualifying automatically for The European Ryder Cup Team last year. The sheer effort drained him, and it is only now that the hard grafter from Pontypridd is reaping the rewards of his sweat and toil.
He has worked hard to achieve recognition and admitted: “I think two years ago I elevated myself to a good status in the game and I wanted to move on from there. However I probably moved backwards and that’s why I want to prove I am a top player, not just a middle of the pack player.”
He hasn’t reached superstar status but added: “I suppose everybody does want that. It might not be the easiest route I am ever going t take but my alternative is to stay in the middle of the pack and that is going to frustrate me. Unless I can see how good I can be, I will probably regret it.”
While Price reaches for the sky, Lyle hopes to rekindle memories of the days when he was among the best players in the world. A tip from the venerable coach John Jacobs at Wentworth Club last week gave Lyle food for thought, and he dined out on it during his seven birdie round.
“I was enjoying some idle chit-chat with John and asked him how could I fade the ball. He told me to push my hands forward and that makes it easier to fade the ball –something I’ve been trying to do for the last ten or 12 years.”
Lyle confessed he had experience days when he wanted to hang up the golf shoes once and for all, but said: “I could have said: ‘I played lousy and I’m giving up’. But I’m not like that. It’s still a challenge and before I go into my box I would like to know what the problem is!”
Poulter carded a second round 67 to move close to Price after chopping an inch off his putter in order bring the ball back in line with his eyes. This week’s event has been like a home from home for the man from Milton Keynes, just a few miles down the road from Woburn.
“I’ve had Justin Rose, Steve Webster and Sam Walker all staying at various times this week. It’s been like a hotel” he said. “It’s nice when you can sleep in your own bed and have others to come and stay, put their feet up and relax. They are all good at looking after my little baby daughter as well!"
Golding, a long time servant on The European Tour, posted a solid five under par 67 for an eight under par total of 136 and attributed his fine form to a putting ‘gizmo’ which paid dividends.
Alongside Lyle on 137 are Dane Søren Hansen, attempting to emulate his friend, Anders Hansen last week, by winning his first title on The European Tour International Schedule, and England’s Simon Khan.
