As 1988 champion Sandy Lyle loosens up on the range, he deserves special recognition for another Masters well-played.

Now 51, and years removed from being truly competitive on the PGA or European PGA Tours, Lyle has put on quite a display at Augusta National this week in making the cut for the third year in a row. And at a time when many former champs are lounging in the clubhouse library or soaking up the sun at one of the lawn tables outside, he is prepping for a 12:15 p.m. tee-off with Padraig Harrington.

Lyle had a lot of good moments this year, but none better than the five-birdie blitz he went on Friday afternoon, from holes 13 through 17. Prior to today’s play, he stands tied for 25th, and his three-day total of 215 is one under par and just ten shots back of the leaders, Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera.

That’s good work, especially when you consider the prodigious length of this course these days and the strapping youngsters against whom Lyle is competing. Yesterday, for example, he was paired with Dustin Johnson, who is about half his age. And they looked for all intents and purposes as if they were playing in a father-son tournament.

But Lyle more than held his own, shooting 73 to Johnson’s 72. And Johnson three-day score is only one stroke lower.

Well done, Sandy.