Lyle falls apart in round two at Augusta

While all eyes were again on Tiger Woods yesterday, another former Masters champion, Sandy Lyle, was having one of the worst days of his distinguished career. The Briton, who won the title in 1984, had started this year's Masters with a first-round 69 - his best round at Augusta since his victory more than a quarter-century ago. Yesterday, though, Lyle shot a nightmare 86. His previous worst was 82. The 52-year-old Scot's horrendous front nine of 46 - only three less than the worst in the tournament's long history - was followed by a triple bogey six on the 12th and a fourth double bogey of the round on the 14th. "I'm battered and bruised," said Lyle, who at 11 over par found himself out of an event for which he had such high hopes 24 hours earlier. "You have to smile. It got beyond a joke. I lost my rhythm completely and just couldn't regroup. "For the first nine holes I thought I was playing with a square ball." Simon Dyson and Chris Wood, the debutants, finished six over and 10 over respectively after rounds of 73 and 76. They look set for early exits too. "Watching on television you think it can't be that hard, but it really is," said Dyson. "If somebody had said I would play like I did I would have taken it, but the wind probably cost me 10 shots. "There's some nasty pins and it's a bit severe, but you can't wrong-side yourself." Fred Couples, the first-round leader, also had a disappointing second day, dropping down the leader board. * Agencies