Augusta, GA … Sandy Lyle was set to spend the afternoon working on his putting after singling out his biggest concern on the Masters opening day being the shortest club in his bag.
Lyle walked from the course clearly disappointed in recording a four over par 76 to continue a recent first round trend at Augusta National.
The 58-year old Scot is competing in his 35th Masters and his effort of four bogeys, at the third, fourth, eighth and last holes, means Lyle has not broken par on a first day in 34 of those appearances.
Sandy Lyle’s biggest concern on day one of the Masters was the shortest club in his bag
The only time Lyle has got below 70 in an opening round was 69 in 2010 while he had carded a 71 on route to victory in 1988.
“I really battled out there in tough conditions with the wind swirling around over the later stages of the round,” he said.
“The wind wasn’t that bad when we started but that was offset at is was very cold.
“As for my own game, I thought I played pretty steady golf and apart from that tee shot down the last hole I hit plenty of fairways.
“But then 35 or 36 putts today is not going to help getting the job done so that’s a little disappointing as I thought that anywhere around a 72 or a 73 was reachable if I had of putted sensibly.”
In fact, Masters officials recoded Lyle taking 30 putts while on the greens including missing from just two feet at the par five 13th for what should have been a birdie.
Once again, Augusta National changed completely from the first three official practice rounds to the start of year’s first Major with overnight rain softening the course and also forcing Masters staff to play ‘Caution – Slippery When Wet’ signs on the steeper sections of the spectator walking areas.
“The rain made sure there wasn’t that much run of the fairways but then the greens were still reasonably fast and especially on the downwind holes,” said Lyle.
“At the first hole, I found the green with a low, punchy 4-iron that stopped within about five feet but then I was expecting it to release but it didn’t because if it had it would have been right up near the pin so that was a surprise.
“But overall this morning was a good test and when the wind is like this, it sorts the men from the boys.
“And anyone who shoots around par today should be happy as it is a good score, easily a good score.”
Lyle also praised his caddy and fellow Champions Tour colleague, Esteban Toledo who stepped onto the first tee for the first time ever in a Masters.
“Esteban was good and he’s still standing despite the tough conditions out there,” said Lyle smiling.“We had plenty discussions out there, so he’s been good for me already this week.”
