Masters icon Sandy Lyle brought the curtain down on his glittering career at Augusta National in 2023 as his 42nd and final outing on the course came to a close in unexpected circumstances.
The finest hour of the Scotsman's glittering career came at the legendary Georgia setting as he had the green jacket bestowed upon him back in 1988. Comfortably one of the planet's foremost golfing talents during the late 1980s, he was a fixture in the top ten of the world rankings for 187 weeks between 1986 and 1989.
His success at the Open in 1985 established his burgeoning reputation as he picked up his first of two majors across his a career that saw him win 32 professional tournaments. However, becoming the first Briton to win at Augusta meant his legacy was long in place prior to his final foray at the Masters last year.
For a man who will forever be fondly recalled for his career-defining heroics at the 18th hole in the final round at the event in 1988, his last outing at the Masters saw him bow out in a somewhat bizarre manner. He failed to make the cut at the Masters in 2023, with play suspended as he prepared for his last putt in the second round due to poor weather.
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The trecherous conditions meant he had to come back the next day to finish things off, with the veteran ace feeling the effects of a night of celebration on the eve of his farewell. Reflecting, Lyle admitted he had enjoyed 'a lot of tequila and a bit of whisky tasting' on the evening prior before braving a misty morning at Augusta for a final time.
LIV Golf star Jason Kokrak was among those who were left saddened for the legendary Scot, especially as he was denied a chance to putt out on the Friday evening in question. He called out organizers, saying: "It could have been a really cool moment for Sandy Lyle, his family, the patrons, Augusta National, being the '88 champion.
"Him and Larry [Mize] being their last Masters. I asked them for a special exemption," he continued, as he was left perturbed by what had unfolded. They said they weren't even going to blow the horn for a few more minutes, but the trees came down on 17. I said this is a moment that he's not going to get again.
Larry Mize of the United States (left), the previous year's winner, presents the Green Jacket to Sandy Lyle of Scotland following Lyle's victory in the US Masters Golf Tournament in 1988Reflecting on his swansong, Lyle admitted that he had begged officials to allow him the chance to hit the putt before play was unceremoniously suspended. He confessed to BBC Sport: "I needed about another 30 seconds probably and I would have had the chance to hit the putt. We tried to talk to the official that, 'you know, please, let us finish'. But, no, they stuck to the rules, and rules are rules and we had to abide by that."
Still, he appeared at peace with the decision, as he accepted the position officials had been put in, continuing: "They [the patrons] have been very supportive and more noticeable probably yesterday. They all stood up coming up the 18th and Jason Kokrak stood by the green and clapped for me all the way from there.
"So they're nice memories and I'm going away with, going home with a good feeling. As you look back at it, it's gone very quick since '88, but it's never let me down," he said. "From winning the tournament you really appreciate how big the Masters is, the memories, the way you're treated as a past champion."
Lyle then added: "I'm looking forward to coming back here every year for the champions dinner, to play the par-three course and play on the Sunday [before the Masters]. It's a shame we didn't get a chance to finish yesterday, but that's just the way it is," said the 65-year-old.
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