Who's who: Sandy Lyle

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Sandy Lyle

  • Name:

    Alexander Walter Barr "Sandy" Lyle
  • Country:

    Scotland
  • Born:

    Feb 9, 1958 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Hawkestone Park GC, Shropshire.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1977

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2). Walker Cup player (1977). Ryder Cup player (1979, '81, '83, '85, '87). Total professional wins (29), including European Tour (18) and PGA Tour (6). European Tour Rookie of the Year (1978) and Order of Merit winner (1979, '80, '85). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2012). Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (1987).

Did you know?

An Englishman (Faldo), a Scotsman (Lyle) and a Welshman (Woosnam) were the top British golfers during the 1980s. Lyle took-up the game courtesy of his father, who moved the family from Scotland to England in 1955 to take up the post of golf professional at Hawkstone Park Golf Club, Shropshire.

Top tournaments won by Sandy Lyle

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

€37,484

Title sponsor

Handa

Played as the inaugural (and only) ISPS Handa Senior World Championship presented by Mission Hills (March 11-13; co-sanctioned with European Snr Tour). Second-placed Peter Fowler (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Lyle (Scot), who recorded his first tournament since the 1992 Volvo Masters. [Jack Nicklaus designed World Cup course, Mission Hills Shenzhen, China].

1992
Europe
287 (+3)
£110,000
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

287 (+3)

Prize money

£110,000

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo Masters (Oct 29-Nov 1; Eurpn Tr season-ending event). Lyle (Scot) beat Colin Montgomerie (Scot) with a par at the first playoff hole, to record the last of his 18 European Tour wins. [Valderrama GC, San Roque, Spain].

1992
Europe
270 (-18)
£61,038
Lancia Martini

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

£61,038

Title sponsor

Lancia Martini

Played as the Lancia Martini Italian Open. Second-placed Colin Montgomerie (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Lyle (Scot). [Red course, GC Monticello, Cassina Rizzardi, nr Como].

1991
Europe
268 (-20)
£66,660
BMW

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

£66,660

Title sponsor

BMW

Played as the BMW International Open (Oct 10-13). Second-placed Tony Johnstone (Zim) finished 3 shots behind Sandy Lyle (Scot). [Golfclub München Eichenried, nr Munich, Germany].

1988
America
269 (-15)
$117,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

$117,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Phoenix Open (Jan 28-31). Lyle (Scot) beat Fred Couples (USA) with a bogey at the third playoff hole. [Stadium course, TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ].

1988
Europe
273 (-15)
£41,660
Dunhill

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

£41,660

Title sponsor

Dunhill

Played as the Dunhill British Masters (June 2-5). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) and defending champion Mark McNulty (Zim) finished 2 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].

1988
America
Forest Oaks CC
271 (-17)
$180,000
Kmart

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Forest Oaks CC

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

Kmart

Played as the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open (Mar 31-Apr 3). Lyle (Scot) beat Ken Green (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole, to record his second win in this event in three years. [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].

1988
Majors
281 (-7)
$183,800
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

$183,800

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (52nd) (April 7-10). Second-placed Mark Calcavecchia (USA) finished 1 shot behind Lyle (Scot), who recorded back-to-back PGA Tour wins. Scotland's first Masters winner clinched his second major championship title with a birdie-three on the final hole, which involved an approach shot from a fairway bunker. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

1988
Europe
2 & 1
£75,000
Suntory

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

2 & 1

Prize money

£75,000

Title sponsor

Suntory

Played as the Suntory World Match Play Championship (Oct 6-10). Lyle (Scot) beat Nick Faldo (Eng) 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tournament Players Championship (March 26-29). Lyle (Scot) beat Jeff Sluman (USA) with a par at the third playoff hole. [Stadium course, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL].

1987
Europe
278 (-10)
£44,480
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

£44,480

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural German Masters (Oct 8-11). Lyle (Scot) beat Bernhard Langer (Ger) with a par at the second playoff hole. [Stuttgarter GC Solitude, Mönsheim, nr Stuttgart].

1986
America
Forest Oaks CC
275 (-13)
$90,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Forest Oaks CC

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 3-6). Second-placed Andy Bean (USA) finished 2 shots behind Lyle (Scot), who recorded his second PGA Tour win, and first on American soil (having previously won the Open Championship, counted as a PGA Tour event). [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].

1985
America
267 (-21)
$50,000
Nissan

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

$50,000

Title sponsor

Nissan

Played as the inaugural Nissan Cup World Championship (individual title) (Nov 6-9; best individual score during this event for teams representing the world's four leading men's PGA tours: USA, Britain, Japan, Australasia). Second-placed Curtis Strange (USA) finished 3 shots behind Sandy Lyle (Scot). [Bay course, Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii].

1985
Europe
274 (-14)
£25,000
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Fulford

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

£25,000

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Aug 15-18). Second-placed Ian Woosnam (Wales) finished 1 shot behind Lyle (Scot). [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

1985
Awards
£162,552
see Score
Epson

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Score

£162,552

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Epson

Lyle (Scot) won his third Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1985 Epson Order of Merit winner, with earnings of £162,552 on the Tour. Bernhard Langer (Ger) was second with £115,716; Seve Ballesteros (Esp) was third with £103,041.

1985
Majors
282 (+2)
£65,000
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

282 (+2)

Prize money

£65,000

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (114th) (July 18-21). Second-placed Payne Stewart (USA) finished 1 shot behind first-time major championship winner Lyle (Scot). [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].

1984
Europe
277 (-11)
£14,404
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Milano

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

£14,404

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Italian Open. Second-placed Bobby Clampett (USA) finished 4 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Milano GC, Villasanta, Monza, nr Milan].

1984
America
266 (-18)
$125,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

$125,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Kapalua International (Nov 8-11; PGA Tour post-season unofficial money event). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 8 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Bay course, Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii].

1984
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
278 (-10)
£22,471
Lancome

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

£22,471

Title sponsor

Lancome

Played as the Trophee Lancome. Lyle (Scot) beat Seve Ballesteros (Esp) at the first playoff hole. [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

1984
Japan
Ibusuki GC
279 (-9)
¥13.5million
Casio

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Ibusuki GC

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

¥13.5million

Title sponsor

Casio

Played as the Casio World Open (Nov 22-25; Japan Tr event). Lyle (Scot) beat Gary Koch (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole (par-4 16th), to record his first and only Japan Tour win. Lyle's first prize equated to US$55,100. [Kaimon course, Ibusuki GC, Ibusuki, Kagoshima, Japan].

1983
Europe
285 (-3)
£9,256
Cepsa

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

285 (-3)

Prize money

£9,256

Title sponsor

Cepsa

Played as the Cepsa Madrid Open. Second-placed Gordon J. Brand (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Real (Royal) Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Madrid].

1982
Europe
269 (-15)
£13,330
Lawrence Batley

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

£13,330

Title sponsor

Lawrence Batley

Played as the Lawrence Batley International (July 22-25). Second-placed Manuel Piñero (Esp) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Lyle (Scot). [Bingley St Ives GC, Bingley, W Yorks].

1981
Europe
270 (-14)
£6,258
Paco Rabanne

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

£6,258

Title sponsor

Paco Rabanne

Played as the Paco Rabanne Open de France. Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 4 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Saint Germain GC, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, nr Paris].

1981
Europe
280 (-4)
£10,000
Lawrence Batley

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

280 (-4)

Prize money

£10,000

Title sponsor

Lawrence Batley

Played as the inaugural Lawrence Batley International (June 4-7). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Lyle (Scot) ... the only two players to finish the tournament under par. [Bingley St Ives GC, Bingley, W Yorks].

1980
Europe
277 (-11)
£5,830
Coral

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

£5,830

Title sponsor

Coral

Played as the Coral Welsh Classic (June 26-29). Second-placed Martin Foster (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, S Wales].

1980
Awards
43,346 pts
£66,059
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Score

43,346 pts

Prize money

£66,059

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Lyle (Scot) won his second straight Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1980 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Lyle accumulated 43,346 pts; Greg Norman (Aus) was second with 43,068 pts; Seve Ballesteros (Esp) was third with 42,376 pts. Greg Norman (Aus) topped the Tour's 1980 Prize Money List with £74,828; Lyle was second with £66,059; Ballesteros was third with £52,089.

1980
America
El Rincon Club
282 (-6)
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

El Rincon Club

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the World Cup of Golf (individual low score) (Dec 11-14). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind Sandy Lyle (Scot) who won the International Trophy for best individual score in the World Cup of Golf. Team winners of the Cup: Dan Halldorson & Jim Nelford (Can). [Club El Rincón, Cajicá, nr Bogota, Colombia].

1979
Europe
276 (-12)
£5,300
Scandinavian Enterprise

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£5,300

Title sponsor

Scandinavian Enterprise

Played as the Scandinavian Enterprise Open (July 5-8). Second-placed and defending champion Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished 3 shots behind Lyle (Scot), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Vasatorps GK, Helsingborg, Sweden].

1979
Europe
271 (-13)
£5,000
BA / Avis

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

La Moye

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

£5,000

Title sponsor

BA / Avis

Played as the BA/Avis Jersey Open (May 31-Jun 3). Second-placed Howard Clark (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Lyle (Scot), who recorded the first of his 18 European Tour wins. [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

£17,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the European Open Championship (Sept 6-9). Second-placed Dale Hayes (RSA) and Peter Townsend (Eng) finished 7 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Ailsa course, Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire].

1979
Awards
72.05
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Score

72.05

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Lyle (Scot) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the European Tour. Neil Coles (Eng) was second with 72.07; Seve Ballesteros (Esp) and Tony Jacklin (Eng) were tied third with 72.24.

1979
Awards
39,807 pts
£49,232
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Score

39,807 pts

Prize money

£49,232

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Lyle (Scot) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1979 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Lyle accumulated 39,807 pts; Seve Ballesteros (Esp) was second with 37,026 pts; Mark James (Eng) was third with 32,493 pts. Lyle also topped the Tour's 1979 Prize Money List with £49,232; Ballesteros was second with £47,411; James was third with £38,534.

1978
Awards
3,553 pts
£5,233
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Lyle, Sandy

Venue

Score

3,553 pts

Prize money

£5,233

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Sandy Lyle (Scot) won the European Tour 1978 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Lyle finished 49th on the Tour's (points-based) Order of Merit; he won £5,233 in prize money during the season.

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