Sandy Lyle - Part 1 (The Early Years and Early Tour Wins)
World Golf Hall of Fame member Sandy Lyle begins his story remembering his days as a young lad growing up and learning the game under the watchful eye of his golf pro father in the West Midlands of England. He recounts his many early successes as a young amateur including his participation in the 1977 Walker Cup. Turning pro at age 19, Sandy had his first win on the European Tour a year later on sand greens at the 1978 Nigerian Open. Listen in as he recalls his first Open Championship in 1974 at Lytham playing with Gary Player in a practice round and Fuzzy Zoeller in the tournament. Sandy Lyle recalls his early years and wins on the European Tour, "FORE the Good of the Game."
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About
"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”
Thanks so much for listening!
Lyle, Sandy
Professional Golfer
For a destination like the World Golf Hall of Fame, a glittering resume is a must. But resumes can’t tell the full story of a player’s impact. This is especially true in the case of Alexander Walter Barr Lyle, known to the golfing world as Sandy.
While his resume shines with victories at the Open Championship, THE PLAYERS Championship and the Masters Tournament, the historical significance of those wins and the affect Lyle had on his contemporaries is even more impressive.
When author Robert Philip was helping Lyle write his autobiography, To The Fairway Born, Philip approached Seve Ballesteros about writing the forward to the book. When asked about just how great Lyle was at his peak, the Spanish legend replied, “The greatest God-given talent in history. If everyone in the world was playing their best, Sandy would win and I’d come second.”
“But my name could be in the ‘tumbler’ to be drawn out. I don’t know how it is decided. It is all down to the committee and what they want from their captain.”
It’s the kind of compliment that transcends a resume. And Ballesteros was qualified to give it, considering how often he and Lyle did battle on the course in the 1970s and 80s.
Ballesteros and Lyle will be forever linked as leaders of a resurgence of European golf in the 1980s. After decades of Palmer, Nicklaus and Watson dominating on the world stage, Europe made a comeback led by Lyle, Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam. The press dubbed them the “Big Five.”
It was apparent early on that Lyle would be a sta… Read More
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