Sir Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle were two of the biggest European golf stars in their day, but that doesn’t mean that they saw eye-to-eye.
Faldo was the far more successful out of the two golfers, with 43 professional victories worldwide to his name, including six major championships.
However, Lyle won 30 times including two major triumphs, so he was more than successful in his own right.
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After retiring from playing competitively, Faldo has often called for rules changes on the PGA and DP World Tours.
However, he was a stickler for them during his playing days.
When Nick Faldo reported Sandy Lyle and got him disqualified
At the Kenyan Open back in 1980, Faldo and Lyle were paired together.
However, midway through their round, Faldo noticed Lyle had placed some tape onto the head of his putter to minimise the glare of the sun.
Rule 4.1a states that it is forbidden to change a club’s characteristics by adjusting features or adding substances.
However, rather than inform Lyle of his misdemeanour, Faldo chose to tip off an official instead, during his walk to the 10th tee box.
Because Lyle put the tape on his putter earlier in his round and did not correct the rule breach immediately, he was disqualified from the tournament.
The two-time major champion never forgot Faldo’s actions from that day in Kenya in 1980.
What Sandy Lyle said about Nick Faldo’s underhand actions
After the incident in Kenya, Lyle voiced his displeasure at the way that Faldo went about things.
“In my mind then it was almost like the end of the world,“ he said.
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“I’d worked my balls off in the heat to make the top three, and to be taken to one side at the end and hear that was devastating.“
Lyle then went on to say that fellow European Tour player Brian Barnes wanted to take matters into his own hands.
The Scot said: “He was all for finding Mr Faldo and punching his lights out.“
Lyle was understandably angry with Faldo and apparently held a grudge against the Englishman for the remainder of their respective careers.
However, traditionalists will argue that Faldo was ultimately fulfilling his duty by protecting the integrity of the field.
There are ways of doing things, though, and the Englishman surely should have informed Lyle before speaking to the rules officials.
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