Augusta can’t ‘Bryson-proof ’ Masters course, warns Lyle ahead of 39th appearance

Sandy Lyle, still no slouch with a driver in his hand even at 62, has already watched Rory Mcilroy hit drives at Augusta National to spots he’d never seen before, writes Martin Dempster.

“Last year, he was in a group in front of me,” recalled the S cot ,“and I remember his shots off eight and 13 and where he was playing his second shots from. I knew if I hit my b est drive, I couldn’t get anywhere near about 50 or 60 yards of his drives.”

It’ s just about to get more demoralising for Lyle, who, in his 39th appearance, is flying the Saltire on his own for the second year running at the Georgia venue.

Step f or wardBrys on Dechambeau. He led the PGA Tour last season in driving distance, averaging 322.1 yards off the tee, and has added more length to his game this season.

Since overpowering Winged Foot in September to win the US Open by six shots, he’s been trying to dial in a 48-inch driver. He’s getting close, apparently, and it could be in his bag for today’s first round.

“Now Br yson is hitting the ball some 40 -yards plus past Mcilroy,” added Lyle, almost gulping at the thought. “It will be kind of fun to watch what Br yson will do this week. It could be all quite entertaining .”

Whether the Augusta National green blazers find the 27- year-old rip ping the place apart-if that does, indeed, prove to b e the case - enter taining, remains to be seen. The course has already been “Tiger-proofed” and now Dechambeau comes along.

“I don’t think Augusta can do an awful lot to ‘Bryson-proof ’ the course,” insisted Lyle. “Bryson is just a whole different animal at the moment.”