The last two members of the 2012 World Golf Hall of Fame induction class were revealed on Thursday, and those two golfers are Sandy Lyle and Peter Alliss.
I'm pleased with both these selections, for different reasons. Lyle was a leader in the emergence of European power on the golf course in the 1980s, one of Europe's "Big Five" of that era along with Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam. Yet, Lyle has often been overlooked. He's the only one of the five bypassed for a Ryder Cup captaincy.
Lyle won two majors, the 1985 British Open and 1988 Masters (the Scotsman is the one who served haggis at the Masters' Champions Dinner). He won 29 times worldwide. Trivia: Lyle was Jack Nicklaus' playing partner in the final round of the 1986 Masters, when Nicklaus made his famous charge to his sixth Green Jacket and final major.
Alliss is best-known today as a broadcaster. He's been the BBC's man on golf for decades and is very popular in that role. But before that he was a pretty good golfer, one of the best in Europe in the years before there was a European Tour.
But Alliss is getting into the Hall (in the Lifetime Achievement category) primarily because of his role as broadcaster and ambassador for golf. Which means there is still a good chance that Ken Venturi will also get into the Hall. Venturi is one of my top picks of golfers who aren't yet in the Hall but most deserve to be.
Alliss is also the reason for the expressions "hit it, Alice!" and "nice putt, Alice!" after a poor putt.
Lyle and Alliss will be inducted in May during the 2012 Players Championship, along with several others whose elections were announced earlier: Phil Mickelson, Hollis Stacy and writer Dan Jenkins.
I'm pleased with both these selections, for different reasons. Lyle was a leader in the emergence of European power on the golf course in the 1980s, one of Europe's "Big Five" of that era along with Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam. Yet, Lyle has often been overlooked. He's the only one of the five bypassed for a Ryder Cup captaincy.
Lyle won two majors, the 1985 British Open and 1988 Masters (the Scotsman is the one who served haggis at the Masters' Champions Dinner). He won 29 times worldwide. Trivia: Lyle was Jack Nicklaus' playing partner in the final round of the 1986 Masters, when Nicklaus made his famous charge to his sixth Green Jacket and final major.
Alliss is best-known today as a broadcaster. He's been the BBC's man on golf for decades and is very popular in that role. But before that he was a pretty good golfer, one of the best in Europe in the years before there was a European Tour.
But Alliss is getting into the Hall (in the Lifetime Achievement category) primarily because of his role as broadcaster and ambassador for golf. Which means there is still a good chance that Ken Venturi will also get into the Hall. Venturi is one of my top picks of golfers who aren't yet in the Hall but most deserve to be.
Alliss is also the reason for the expressions "hit it, Alice!" and "nice putt, Alice!" after a poor putt.
Lyle and Alliss will be inducted in May during the 2012 Players Championship, along with several others whose elections were announced earlier: Phil Mickelson, Hollis Stacy and writer Dan Jenkins.
Comments
Ken Venturi is a flaming a……! He’s got the biggest ego this side of Jay Overton…no wonder you think he ought to be in the hall, he thinks so also..