Alexander Walter Barr "Sandy" Lyle (born 9 February 1958) is a Scottish professional golfer. He has won two major championships during his career. Along with Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, he became one of Britain's top golfers during the 1980s. He spent 167 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking from its introduction, in 1986, until 1989.
Early life Lyle was born in Shrewsbury, England. He represented Scotland during his professional career. He was introduced to golf by his father, Alex, who had taken the family from Scotland to England in 1955 when he became resident professional at Hawkstone Park golf course. Their family home was just 40 yards from the pro-shop and 18th green. He began playing with miniature clubs at the age of 3.
As a schoolboy, at junior and amateur level, Lyle represented England.
Amateur career In the summer of 1974, Lyle received a golf scholarship to the University of Houston. However, he did not pass the entrance examination and was not allowed to attend the university. Lyle returned to Britain "to find another route into professional golf."
As an amateur Lyle made his debut in The Open Championship at age 16 in 1974 and won the Brabazon Trophy in 1975 and 1977. He was a member of the Walker Cup team in 1977.
Professional career In 1977 he turned professional and decided to represent Scotland. He was medalist at the 1977 Qualifying School tournament for the European Tour. His first professional win came in the 1978 Nigerian Open, and he also won the Sir Henry Cotton Award as European Rookie of the Year that season. Lyle attained the first of an eventual 18 European Tour titles in 1979.
Lyle, for Scotland, finished runner-up at the World Cup of Golf team event in 1979, 1980 and 1987; in the latter year Lyle captured the low individual trophy in that event.
Lyle showed his quality by winning The Open Championship at Royal St George's Golf Club in 1985. He was the first British winner since Tony Jacklin in 1969, and started the rise of British golfers in the world scene.
Lyle was a member of five European Ryder Cup teams, from 1979 to 1987 inclusive. Highlights from those years included the team that was victorious at the Belfry in the autumn of 1985, and the 1987 team which won for the first time ever on American soil, at Muirfield Village.
For many golf fans he is best known for the fairway bunker shot and the subsequent birdie putt at the 18th hole in the final round of the Masters in 1988 when he became the first Briton to wear the green jacket. He also won two other events on the PGA Tour that season, along with the World Match Play Championship, after being a losing finalist on several occasions.
Lyle topped the European Tour Order of Merit in 1979, 1980 and 1985. He finished in the top ten nine times between 1979 and 1992. He was also a member of the PGA Tour for several years and finished seventh on the US money list in 1988, despite a limited playing schedule. He won the 1987 Tournament Players Championship, one of the most prestigious American titles. Lyle's form dropped after 1992, when he was 34, and he has not won a significant event since.
Senior career On turning 50 in 2008, Lyle played on the Champions Tour and the European Senior Tour.
Lyle won his first tournament in 19 years when he captured his first European Senior Tour title at the 2011 ISPS Handa Senior World Championship, held in China.
He took up hickory golf, winning the World Hickory Open in his native Scotland in 2014 and 2016. Lyle referred to the 2016 victory as his "fourth major" to go along with the 2014 crown, as well as the 1988 Masters and 1985 Open titles.
Legacy As a player, Lyle is known for his cool temperament and placid exterior. In his peak years, he was very long from the tee and through the set, and had enough accuracy to master any course. His achievements inspired fellow rivals such as Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam to raise their games, and go on to win the majors. Lyle published his first book, "To the Fairway Born" in 2006. In the same year he was assistant captain to Ian Woosnam when Europe won the Ryder Cup. He had been hoping to be picked as the captain for the 2010 European Ryder Cup team but missed out to Colin Montgomerie.
In July 2009, Lyle became involved in a public row with Colin Montgomerie where he unfavourably compared Montgomerie's actions at the Indonesian Open four years previously with his own actions in not completing a round at the 2008 Open Championship. Reaction to this was mixed with some players supporting Lyle while other players and commentators felt that Lyle's timing was unfortunate and that any point he may have had was lost in the ensuing controversy.
Personal life Lyle lives in Scotland. He is married to Jolande. They have two children.
Awards and honors
In 2012, Lyle was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
In 2024, Lyle was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours for services to golf.
Amateur wins 1975 Brabazon Trophy, Carris Trophy 1977 Brabazon Trophy, Berkshire Trophy, British Youths Open Amateur Championship, Berkhamsted Trophy, Hampshire Hog
Professional wins (30) PGA Tour wins (6) LegendMajor championships (2) Players Championships (1)Other PGA Tour (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up121 Jul 1985The Open Championship +2 (68-71-73-70=282)1 stroke Payne Stewart26 Apr 1986Greater Greensboro Open−13 (68-64-73-70=275)2 strokes Andy Bean329 Mar 1987Tournament Players Championship−14 (67-71-66-70=274)Playoff Jeff Sluman431 Jan 1988Phoenix Open−15 (68-68-68-65=269)Playoff Fred Couples53 Apr 1988KMart Greater Greensboro Open (2)−17 (68-63-68-72=271)Playoff Ken Green610 Apr 1988Masters Tournament−7 (71-67-72-71=281)1 stroke Mark Calcavecchia
PGA Tour playoff record (3–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11987Tournament Players Championship Jeff SlumanWon with par on third extra hole21988Phoenix Open Fred CouplesWon with bogey on third extra hole31988KMart Greater Greensboro Open Ken GreenWon with birdie on first extra hole41989Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Paul Azinger, Steve JonesJones won with birdie on first extra hole
European Tour wins (18) LegendMajor championships (2)Tour Championships (1)Other European Tour (15) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up13 Jun 1979B.A./Avis Open−13 (66-71-66-68=271)3 strokes Howard Clark28 Jul 1979Scandinavian Enterprise Open−12 (73-69-65-69=276)3 strokes Seve Ballesteros39 Sep 1979European Open Championship−9 (71-67-72-65=275)7 strokes Dale Hayes, Peter Townsend429 Jun 1980Coral Welsh Classic−11 (72-69-67-69=277)5 strokes Martin Foster510 May 1981Paco Rabanne Open de France−14 (70-66-67-67=270)4 strokes Bernhard Langer67 Jun 1981Lawrence Batley International−4 (70-70-69-71=280)2 strokes Nick Faldo725 Jul 1982Lawrence Batley International (2)−15 (70-66-67-66=269)2 strokes Manuel Piñero824 Apr 1983Cepsa Madrid Open−3 (70-69-76-70=285)2 strokes Gordon J. Brand96 May 1984Italian Open−11 (71-70-68-68=277)4 strokes Bobby Clampett107 Oct 1984Trophée Lancôme−10 (74-70-67-67=278)Playoff Seve Ballesteros1121 Jul 1985The Open Championship +2 (68-71-73-70=282)1 stroke Payne Stewart1218 Aug 1985Benson & Hedges International Open−14 (70-69-71-64=274)1 stroke Ian Woosnam1311 Oct 1987German Masters−10 (73-69-70-66=278)Playoff Bernhard Langer1410 Apr 1988Masters Tournament−7 (71-67-72-71=281)1 stroke Mark Calcavecchia155 Jun 1988Dunhill British Masters−15 (66-68-68-71=273)2 strokes Nick Faldo, Mark McNulty1613 Oct 1991BMW International Open−20 (65-65-71-67=268)3 strokes Tony Johnstone173 May 1992Lancia Martini Italian Open (2)−18 (66-71-65-68=270)1 stroke Colin Montgomerie181 Nov 1992Volvo Masters +3 (72-70-72-73=287)Playoff Colin Montgomerie
European Tour playoff record (3–3) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11983Ebel European Masters Swiss Open Nick FaldoLost to par on second extra hole21984Trophée Lancôme Seve BallesterosWon with birdie on first extra hole31985Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship Paul WayLost to birdie on third extra hole41985Glasgow Open Howard ClarkLost to birdie on second extra hole51987German Masters Bernhard LangerWon with par on second extra hole61992Volvo Masters Colin MontgomerieWon with par on first extra hole
PGA of Japan Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up125 Nov 1984Casio World Open−9 (68-69-71-71=279)Playoff Gary Koch
PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11984Casio World Open Gary KochWon with birdie on first extra hole
Safari Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up127 Feb 1978Nigerian Open−15 (61-63-70-75=269)Playoff Michael King
Other wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up12 Sep 1979STV Scottish Professional Championship−10 (66-71-70-67=274)Playoff Sam Torrance214 Dec 1980World Cup International Trophy−6 (69-69-74-70=282)1 stroke Bernhard Langer311 Nov 1984Kapalua International−18 (68-64-69-65=266)8 strokes Bernhard Langer410 Nov 1985Nissan Cup Individual Trophy−21 (68-67-68-64=267)3 strokes Curtis Strange510 Oct 1988Suntory World Match Play Championship2 and 1 Nick Faldo
Other playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11979STV Scottish Professional Championship Sam TorranceWon with par on third extra hole
European Senior Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up113 Mar 2011ISPS Handa Senior World Championship−12 (68-66-70=204)3 strokes Peter Fowler
Playoff record Korean Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11997Hyundai Motor Masters Ian WoosnamLost to birdie on second extra hole
Major championships
Wins (2) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1985 The Open Championship 3 shot deficit +2 (68-71-73-70=282) 1 stroke Payne Stewart 1988 Masters Tournament 2 shot lead −7 (71-67-72-71=281) 1 stroke Mark Calcavecchia
Results timeline Results not in chronological order in 2020. Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTT19PGA Championship Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989Masters Tournament48T28CUTT25T11T171CUTU.S. OpenCUTCUTT45T36T25CUTThe Open ChampionshipT12T14T8CUTT141T30T17T7T46PGA ChampionshipCUT Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999Masters TournamentCUTCUTT37T21T38CUTCUTT34CUTT48U.S. OpenCUTT16T51T52The Open ChampionshipT16WDT12CUT74T79T56CUTT19CUTPGA ChampionshipT16CUTT56T73T39 Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUTCUTT37CUTCUT4345T20U.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTT69T75CUT73T32CUTT65WDCUTPGA Championship Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUTT54T44CUTCUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTCUTCUT84CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTPGA Championship Tournament20192020202120222023Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTPGA ChampionshipU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipNT
CUT = missed the half way cut (3rd round cut in 1974 and 1983 Open Championships) WD = withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 1 0 0 1 1 6 42 17PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 4U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 6The Open Championship 1 0 0 1 3 11 43 22Totals 2 0 0 2 4 20 101 49 Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1984 Open Championship – 1988 Open Championship) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (four times)
The Players Championship Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1987 Tournament Players Championship 2 shot deficit −14 (67-71-66-70=274) Playoff Jeff Sluman
Results timeline Tournament19851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998The Players ChampionshipCUTCUT1CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTT74CUTCUTT70CUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in senior major championships Results not in chronological order before 2021.