Missed cut leads reflective Sandy Lyle towards talk of Masters farewell

Sandy Lyle can still remember the first time. The 2023 Masters is likely to be the last time. Lyle created a little piece of history at Augusta National this week, having teed up in a major for the 100th time. He thereby becomes the first golfer from Scotland to achieve that not inconsequential feat. Not that the 64-year-old was aware of his milestone. “Nobody has ever mentioned that to me,” he said. “Does it make me feel better? Yes, a little bit. Something to tell the grandkids in years to come.” Lyle’s mood had been influenced by another missed Masters cut. “It’s not easy when you are making bogey after bogey,” he conceded.

The 1988 champion last survived for the weekend in Georgia in 2014, with his latest halfway exit coming after rounds of 82 and 76. These are not embarrassing scores – Augusta, already a tricky venue, is especially formidable this year – but Lyle’s scenario lends itself to the narrative of when enough becomes enough for invitees. Unlike in other majors, winners of the Masters are entitled to play for as long as they so choose.

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Golfers have egos but falling victim to a 36-hole battering – especially at a course you could once conquer – cannot be much fun. Lyle admits he is close to the end. “I think next year might be the end of the Lyle attack on this golf course,” he said. “My oldest son is coming out with a few of his buddies, my youngest son is coming out. So it will be full family and the end.

“You know yourself when it is time to stop. Fuzzy [Zoeller] put his hand up at the Tuesday night [champions] dinner and said ‘I’d just like to let everybody know, I’m going to retire.’ Tommy Aaron and Charles Coody went on a bit