GOLDEN oldie Sandy Lyle is set to roll back the years in more ways than one at this week's Masters.

The celebrated Scot, who claimed the cherished Green Jacket at Augusta back in 1988, will use a hickory shafted putter for his 34th Masters appearance.

Lyle is a great fan of the sticks that were used in a bygone era and even won the World Hickory Open Championship at Panmure near Carnoustie last year.

Now the 57-year-old, who has made the cut on his last two outings here at Augusta, is ready step back in time again in the first Major of the season.

He said: "I've actually been putting quite well with the hickory putter and the wife said 'well, why don't you use it at Augusta?'. I said 'I can't do that' but here it is. It's something a bit different."

Lyle played 18 holes with a full set of hickories last Saturday when he arrived at Augusta and his delve into the archives has even attracted the attentions of former world No.1 Tiger Woods.

Lyle added: "I was at the Champions' Dinner the other night and Tiger came over and said 'I hear you played on Saturday with hickory clubs?'

"My challenge was to break 80 but I didn't. It was off the back tees mind you. I parred the first and the 18th. I think the young guys might struggle to break 76 round here with the hickories.

"I had Dustin Johnson hit my hickory driver one time and he still hit it 280 like a bullet.

"I've been using hickory clubs that are manufactured by a man called Tad Moore for a while. Tiger hadn't heard of Tad Moore before but he sounded pretty interested.

"At the end of the evening he came over to me and said 'what was that name again?' He wants to look at my hickory clubs and maybe try something different."

The Masters still gets Lyle's juices flowing and the former Open champ is relishing the prospect of getting into the old routine again.

"My game is in reasonable shape, thank God," he added. "The Masters still gets the old ticker going. I'm looking forward to it. The course is in good condition, there's plenty of growth and it's little softer as well after all the rain. The big bombers may have that edge."

Lyle has seen it, done it and acquired a whole host of officially branded Masters T-shirts during a glittering career. Bradley Neil, the reigning Amateur champion from Blairgowrie, has it all to learn.

He'll be learning from a past master, though, after the 19-year-old was paired with Lyle for the opening two rounds.

Lyle said: "He is looking forward to playing with me. You can't do a lot for them but you can make them feel comfortable.

"We'll just have some fun but the challenge of the course will keep the mind going all the time."

Another Scot, Stephen Gallacher, is also relishing his return trip to Augusta after his debut a year ago during a 2014 campaign that was also highlighted by a Ryder Cup appearance.

He said: "There certainly can't be any greater pressure than standing up on the first tee in a Ryder Cup on home soil. If you don't want to be faced with that sort of pressure then don't try and qualify for it.

"It's the same when you play in these tournaments. You get nervous but it's more excitement than anything else.

"If you don't get excited by being at a place like this then you are in the wrong game."