AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) – Former champion Sandy Lyle rolled back the years with a spectacular burst of five consecutive birdies to surge up the leaderboard at the U.S. Masters on Friday.

The 51-year-old, who became the first Briton to win the Masters in 1988, launched his sizzling run by sinking a 20-footer at the 13th on his way to a two-under-par 70 in the second round.

That left Lyle at two-under 142, level with world number one Tiger Woods and seven strokes off the lead.

“I started making some putts on the back nine and I had something like eight or nine single putts (all day),” the Scot told reporters after carding seven birdies and five bogeys in blustery conditions.

“Not all long ones but nice ones at the right time. I wasn’t hitting the ball that well in terms of knocking the pins out. I only hit about six or seven greens (in regulation) but I missed them in the right spot.

GRINDING DAY

“It’s been a grinding day,” added Lyle, who clinched his first major title at the 1985 British Open.

Lyle began the round seven strokes off the pace and made a birdie at the par-five second before losing ground with four consecutive bogeys from the fourth.

“I knew after nine holes I had a bit of work to do as I was two over for the tournament,” he said after taking only 22 putts in the round.

The Scot marred his back-nine birdie blitz by bogeying the 18th.

“I drove it well down the stretch and I was a bit disappointed on the last not to hit an eight-iron approach into the heart of the green,” Lyle said after making the cut here for a third successive year. “I just hit a poor shot.

“This isn’t the sort of course where you can be aggressive. You have to be very cagey and take your chances when they arrive.

“I am happy to be playing the weekend for the third year in a row and I might be playing with Tiger … you never know.”

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)