Sandy Lyle will be out for a second career Phoenix success and first class seating aboard the ‘Langer Airlines’ direct flight to Augusta, Georgia.
It was 22-years ago when the then World No. 4 captured the Phoenix Open and a fourth of six PGA Tour victories when he defeated Fred Couples with a bogey at the third extra hole.
Lyle has returned to the Arizona capital in very different circumstances for Friday’s start to the Champions Tour season-ending Charles Schwab Championship.
He and his wife, Jolande arrived back to the States last week for Lyle’s first event since February and then he had to undergo testing before and during last weeks at the Timber Tech Championship at Boca Raton in Florida.
He said: “We flew into Miami and then drove up to Boca Raton for the event. There was then COVID testing ahead of the tournament and last Saturday night there was more testing for all those going back into the travel and tournament bubble in Phoenix.
Scotland’s Sandy Lyle
“Then on Monday of the Masters, everyone has to go somewhere in Augusta for more tests to be done before being allowed into the club at Augusta. So, now that I’m back over here in the U.S. it is constant testing.
“I don’t mind the tests but the only downturn is like staying at the Embassy Suites last week in Boca Raton and breakfast was very, very minimal.
“There’s no full breakfast like in Scotland and just cereal, small bagels and some fruit and coffee.
“I did have had some scrambled eggs last week but you could almost bounce it off the wall, it was that bad.”
Lyle left his wife to head north to their Florida home near Jacksonville while he flew out of nearby West Palm Beach airport straight to Phoenix in what this week will be just his fifth event of the year.
He said: “I played three of the four opening events and then I was going to go back to Scotland for a few weeks and head back out again but then we had the lockdown, so that’s been it.
“I was a bit ring-rusty at the Timber Tech and it was all about getting competition confident again. My swing is not quite behaving itself but it’s all about just getting comfortable again with every aspect of your game.
“I would say probably my driving the hardest and needing the most work as it’s being confident to take on certain shots.”
And on arriving into Phoenix, the memories again came flooding back for Lyle albeit winning on the TPC Scottsdale course and with this week’s event on the Phoenix Country Club layout.
He said: “I’ve not played this week’s venue but I have played in Phoenix before over the years.
“I did manage to win there in 1988 beating Freddie (Couples) and it was a win that set-up a great year for me as I then won Greensboro and a week later and won the Masters.
“I returned home and won the British Masters the next month and ended the year winning the Match-Play, so winning in Phoenix set-up five victories for me back in ’88.”
And once Phoenix is over, it’s straight to Augusta and what will be Lyle’s 39th Masters showing.
He said: “Augusta has kept us advised where to go on the Monday of Masters week to have your tests, and they have promised we will be informed within a short time and not have to wait hours and hours.
“Then we will then be given a special tag to wear.
“I’m flying out Sunday night from Phoenix on ‘Langer Airways’ as Bernhard has arranged a charter jet for a few of us playing in the Masters to head straight from Phoenix on the Sunday night and into Augusta.
“So, we should arrive around 10.30/11pmish and be ready for the testing the next morning.”
Lyle made his Masters debut in 1980 finishing T48th but has missed the cut in the last five showings.
