Scot's best Masters since 1988 victory

Swing changes put

Sandy Lyle on track

for top 20 finish

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Former champion Sandy Lyle evoked thoughts of Masters tournaments past when he rolled back the years with a vintage performance at Augusta National to rekindle memories of his own Green Jacket 21 years ago.
The 51 year old Scot European Senior Tour Member produced four majestic rounds of golf to finish in a tie for 20th place – his best performance at the Masters since his famous victory in 1988.
One of the many highlights of the Scot’s stunning display was a run of five consecutive birdies on the back nine of his second round en route to a 70. Whilst making the cut for the first time since 2004 would have been an achievement in itself, Lyle maintained his momentum with further round of 73 and 71 to end the tournament on two under par 286 and record his best finish in major championship since he tied for 18th place at the Open championship in 1998.
Lyle memorably became the fourth non-American player to capture the Masters when he escaped a fairway bunker on the 18th hole with a seven iron and birdied the final hole in 1988 to win by a stroke over Mark Calcavecchia.
That followed his previous major championship success in the 1985 Open championship and cemented his place among golfing greats. Lyle’s top 20 finish on Sunday came after he finished in a share of sixth place at the European Senior Tour’s first tournament of 2009, the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by the Stapleford Forum, and he attributes his fine form to a change in his swing.
“I've played here 30-odd times, so I know how to play the course," he said. "It is just picking your shots. My ball striking has improved and it's nice to play without putting too much pressure on myself.
“I was just happy to finish below par. I had a double bogey in the first round, so to finish at two under was pretty good. The changes I've made mean I am blocking out half the course, which is something I have been trying to do for about 12 years.”