Britain assured matchplay title

Press, 20 October 1987, Page 48

Britain assured matchplay title

NZPA-Reuter Wentworth, England Britain’s influence on Europe’s surging golf fortunes will be underlined when one of its stars wins the world matchplay title for the first time today. lan Woosnam and Sandy Lyle both won ten-sion-packed semi-finals to ensure the first British winner in the 24-year history of this championship. Woosnam repulsed a nerve-tingling revival from Spain’s Seve Ballesteros to post a one-hole victory on the thirty-sixth green. Lyle came back from three holes down with four to play to oust Mark McNulty, of South Africa, on the third extra hole. The two, who played together as boys and who still represent golf clubs 32km apart, will battle each other over 36 holes for a winner’s prize of £75,000 ($185,730). The Ryder Cup teammates both bring impressive credentials to the final. Lyle, the 1985 British Open champion, is ranked fifth in the world and scored an impressive win On the United States tour this year at the Tournament Players’ Championship. A week ago he had his first European victory of the year at the German Masters in Stuttgart Woosnam has come of age this year with four wins in Europe — at the Jersey, Italian and Scottish Opens and at the Lancome Trophy tournament in Paris. Ranked, tenth in the world, he has set a European moneywinning record of £253,57 ($628,303).