Lyle turns back clock with five birdies in a row

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Former champion Sandy Lyle rolled back the years with a spectacular burst of five consecutive birdies to surge up the leaderboard at the U.S. Masters on Friday.

The 51-year-old, who became the first Briton to win the Masters in 1988, launched his sizzling run by sinking a 20-footer at the 13th on his way to a two-under-par 70 in the second round.

That left Lyle at two-under 142, level with world number one Tiger Woods and seven strokes off the lead.

"I started making some putts on the back nine and I had something like eight or nine single putts (all day)," the Scot told reporters after carding seven birdies and five bogeys in blustery conditions.

"Not all long ones but nice ones at the right time. I wasn't hitting the ball that well in terms of knocking the pins out. I only hit about six or seven greens (in regulation) but I missed them in the right spot.

GRINDING DAY

"It's been a grinding day," added Lyle, who clinched his first major title at the 1985 British Open.

Lyle began the round seven strokes off the pace and made a birdie at the par-five second before losing ground with four consecutive bogeys from the fourth.