Sandy Lyle: The Story Of The 1985 Open

OpenLogoImage 1Sandy Lyle: The Story Of The 1985 OpenAfter just four years away from Sandwich, The Open made a swift return to the Kent coastline and Royal St George’s for the 114th edition of golf’s original major championship. There had been no British winner of The Open since Tony Jacklin in 1969, no Scottish major winner since Tommy Armour in 1931 – that was until Sandy Lyle came along. Bernhard Langer had retained his memory of the course from his runner-up finish in 1981 and was tied for the lead with Australian David Graham after three rounds. American Tom Kite also was in contention during the final round as he surged up the leaderboard during his front nine but a double bogey at the 10th soon extinguished his challenge. Enter Scotland’s Lyle, who had been waiting in the wings and biding his time until back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th sparked his championship into life as he took the lead. A fluffed chip on the last made it a nail-biting finish but Lyle’s score of 2-over-par was enough to make him the first Briton to lift the Claret Jug in 16 years. The Old New Driver TrickIn the buildup to The Open in 1985, Lyle was struggling for form and decided to opt for a hand-me-down driver from not just one, but two other golfers. And the story that Lyle tells about how he acquired the club he used to drive in his first major victory highlights how far the game has come from a time when it took two days to get your driver reshafted. Image 2He also moved his schedule around in order to fit in a few extra events, which clearly paid off.
"That week I got a new driver – well, it was new to me,” he said. “It was an old MacGregor driver that had been passed down from Eamonn Darcy, who couldn't hit it, to Ian Woosnam, who couldn't hit it either, so I adopted it and reshafted it."The experience of driving the ball a little tidier gave me a bit of hope. “If you can drive the ball well at the Open, particularly round Royal St George's, then it's half the battle. I drove it well all week and that really spurred me on."Limited tickets and hospitality for The 149th Open at Royal St George’s are still available.READ MOREThe R&ACoverWhat's InsideLeague Threat May Beget Opportunity For Tour PlayersCallaway Chicopee Golf Ball Plant 022420the divotThe Mellowing Of MontyKathy Whitworth Remembers Mickey WrightPicture This: Champ-spreadingPicture This: Hola, RoryPicture This: DeChambeauA Quick 9Range RatAcushnet CEO Issues Distance Report DissentReed Tunes Out The NoiseReed Deflects Koepka, Kostis Rules AllegationsHovland Lives Up To The HypeWomen’s Amateur Latin America To Debut In 2020Bushnell Rangefinders Seek To Instil ConfidenceTeen Dashes Wilson’s Hopes In South AfricaSandy Lyle: The Story Of The 1985 OpenStatisticsPostScriptMasthead