In winning the World Matchplay title in 1988, Lyle enjoyed a rich vein of form in his matches with Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo. In his semi-final with Ballesteros, Lyle was 13 under par for the 30 holes played. He won the contest 7&6. And in his 2&1 victory over Faldo in the final, he was 9-under-par for 35 holes. Lyle closed out his clash with Faldo by making four consecutive birdies, from the 32nd.

Lyle's first major title came at Royal St George's in 1985. After sinking birdies putts at the 14th (35 feet) and 15th (12 feet), he arrived at the final hole needing a par for victory. But his second shot at the par-4, 18th, trickled off the left side of the green. He took three more shots to hole out, and his bogey-five allowed David Graham and Bernhard Langer the opportunity to force a play-off. Both came to the final hole needing a birdie to tie Lyle. But Graham found a greenside bunker with his approach and Langer overshot the green. Both made bogies. Lyle had become the first British winner of the British Open for 16 years.

Three years later Lyle won the US Masters in more spectacular fashion, when he birdied the final hole for a one-stroke victory. After driving into a fairway trap, Lyle lofted a 7-iron bunker shot to within 10 feet of the flag and then sank the putt for a three. In 1987, he became the first, and so far only, European golfer to win the prestigious Players' Championship at TPC at Sawgrass in Florida.

Sandy Lyle's swing is the most powerful in golf.

In 1985 Sandy Lyle followed Tony Jacklin as the first home winner of the British Open for 16 years.