| After that first major success at the 1985 Open Sandy spent more time on
the US Tour and he was rewarded with his first victory at the 1986
Greater Greensboro tournament where he finished two strokes clear of
Andy Bean. The following season saw Lyle victorious at the prestigious
Tournament Players Championship with a play-off win over American Jeff
Sluman and on the European Tour he won the German Masters. Later that
year Sandy enjoyed his best ever Ryder Cup in what has sadly proved to
be his last appearance to date. His partnership with Bernhard Langer
proved instrumental in the European team's 15-13 victory as they gained
victories over Andy Bean & Mark Calcavecchia and Lanny Wadkins &
Larry Nelson twice. Sandy was defeated in the final day singles by Tom
Kite but his three points from four were vital as Europe won on American
soil for the first time to retain the trophy they had won so memorably
at the Belfry two years earlier. The year of 1988 proved to be the
pinnacle of Lyle's career as he gained notable victories at the Phoenix
Open,Greater Greensboro Open and,of course,that magnificent triumph at
the Masters. Sandy had opened the tournament with a round of 71 in
testing conditions and then fired a superb second-round 67 to move into a
two stroke lead. He retained that lead going into the final day
and,after initially pulling away from the field,the pressure told and he
found himself all square with Mark Calcavecchia going up the last.
Sandy looked in trouble when he put his tee shot into a fairway bunker
but then proceeded to produce a shot of sublime quality to put his seven
iron within 12 feet of the pin. Under intense pressure the Scotsman
calmly rolled in the putt to become the first ever British winner of the
much coveted Green Jacket. (David Scranage) |