Lyle digs down to win on final hole in 1988

Scottish golfer’s 7-iron shot from bunker leads to 10-foot birdie putt.

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series in which The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will look back on the significant anniversaries that fall on the upcoming 2018 Masters. Today: 30th anniversary of Sandy Lyle’s birdie on the final hole to win Masters.

Anywhere but the bunker.

Sandy Lyle led by two strokes after both the second and third rounds of the 1988 Masters. He lost his lead on the back nine of the final round but came to the 18th hole tied with Mark Calcavecchia. Lyle teed off with a 1-iron determined not to hit the

fairway bunker on the final hole.

Nothing but sand. The tee shot bounded up the 18th fairway and, after it nearly missed a rake in front of the trap, settled in the bunker.

Lyle was aggressive with his approach, hitting the most famous 7-iron shot in Masters history. Picking the ball clean, it landed past the hole and trickled down the green to settle 10 feet from the cup. Lyle made the birdie to capture the Masters title with a final round of 1-under par and 7-under par for the tournament. It was the dif- ference in a one-shot win over Calcavecchia.

“Personally, I thought it was over when the ball went in that front bunker,” the 30-year-old Lyle said after winning his second major in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article. “That trap has a very steep face. I didn’t think I had a chance to get out of the bunker. But when I got to it, the lie was actually pretty good. I’d come

GETTY IMAGES Scotland’s Sandy Lyle (right) shows off his green jacket after winning the 1988 Masters with a birdie on the final hole.