Lyle retains Ryder captain hopes

Sandy Lyle said he was surprised at the backlash since The Open

Sandy Lyle is confident his decision to quit his first round during the Open will not scupper his chances of becoming Ryder Cup captain in 2010.

The Scot, 50, told BBC Sport he hopes to captain the European side in Wales in two years' time.

"People have their own ideas and my idea is that it won't hurt," he said. "I don't think it'll harm my chances."

Lyle, who was 11 over par when he walked off at Royal Birkdale, revealed he was suffering from a hand injury.

The Scot said he was eager to draw a line under the affair and concentrate on his golf.

"The Ryder Cup is two years away and there's a lot of water to go under the bridge," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the next Ryder Cup coming up first of all and see how the team does.

The response has been quite amazing - I didn't think I'd be that big a name at The Open Sandy Lyle

"But, as far as my position is concerned, I don't think it will do a great deal of harm."

Lyle said he was surprised at the criticism he had received in the wake of his walk-off at Royal Birkdale.

"It's not something I would like to do on a regular basis," he said, "but I've had sore hands and knuckles for a couple of years now.

"I have been playing most of this year pain-free but in the cold weather, which you don't really expect in July around Birkdale, a couple of skanky shots didn't help at all.

"The response has been quite amazing. I didn't think I'd be quite that big a name at The Open.

"It's the other people you hurt; the sponsors and the people who have paid to watch. They want to see you play at least two rounds of the tournament.

"Unfortunately, when things get as bad as they did out there, I had to make a decision. I needed to either get off the course quickly or make it even worse."

Lyle said there was little he could do about his injured left hand.

"I regret it a little bit, but I've spoken to R&A chief executive Peter Dawson and it's all right with him," he said. "I also wrote him a letter."

Lyle is looking forward to taking part in the Senior Open Championship in Troon, which begins on Thursday.

He will play alongside Tom Watson and Greg Norman and said: "It doesn't get any better than that does it?

"If you were to 'dream team' your pairings then you'd probably say Tom and Greg."

I didn't think I would be that big a name at The Open championship.