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Posted March 23, 2012, 9:15 pm |

1988: Sandy Lyle first from Britain to win Masters

  • Article Photos
    1988: Sandy Lyle first from Britain to win Masters
    Photos description
    Lyle
  • Article Photos
    1988: Sandy Lyle first from Britain to win Masters
    Photos description
    Lyle
  • Article Photos
    1988: Sandy Lyle first from Britain to win Masters
    Photos description
    Front Page of The Augusta Chronicle after the 1988 Masters Tournament

Sandy Lyle already had won one major championship, the 1985 British Open, before his Masters triumph. He also had the pleasure of playing with Jack Nicklaus in the final round of the 1986 Masters, so he had seen firsthand how to win the tournament.

Unlike Nicklaus, Lyle had the lead to himself when the final round started. Rounds of 71, 67 and 72 left him two shots clear of Mark Calcavecchia.

Lyle enjoyed a three-shot lead through 10 holes before stumbling at Amen Corner and falling behind Calcavecchia. He regained a share of the lead with a birdie on No. 16.

With Calcavecchia in the clubhouse, Lyle needed a par on the final hole to force a playoff. When his drive found the fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway, things looked bleak.

But his 7-iron from the bunker landed about 30 feet past the pin, then trickled back down to about 10 feet. The Scot rolled the putt in to avoid a playoff and secure his second major championship, dancing an impromptu jig on the 18th green.

``It's not a putt you want to have every day of the week,'' Lyle said. ``Your knees are knocking a little bit. . . . You've got to go through the motion. I've learned to keep my nerves under control.''

1988 Masters

 PlayerFR1R2R3R4 Earn.
1Sandy Lyle-771677271 $183,800
2M. Calcavecchia-671697270 $110,200
3Craig Stadler-576697068 $69,400
4Ben Crenshaw-472736772 $48,900
5Fred Couples-375687171 $36,500
5Greg Norman-377737164 $36,500
5Don Pooley-371727270 $36,500
8David Frost-273747168 $31,000
9B. Langer-171727173 $28,000
9Tom Watson-172717371 $28,000