Lyle: Monty's a cheat

Two-time major winner criticises his former Ryder Cup ally

Last updated: 14th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lyle: Monty's a cheat

Lyle: Outburst

You have Monty dropping the ball badly in that event and that is what you would call a form of cheating.

Sandy Lyle
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Sandy Lyle has accused Colin Montgomerie of "cheating" in the past, suggesting that should have counted against his rival in the battle for Ryder Cup captaincy.

Former Open champion Lyle was up against his fellow Scot to become Sir Nick Faldo's successor at the helm of the European team for 2010.

In the end it was Montgomerie that got the nod, but Lyle is clearly bitter about being passed over and has dredged up the infamous Indonesian Open incident involving former European number one in 2005.

Montgomerie was shown on camera placing his ball in a more advantageous position after a weather break and, despite being cleared of any deliberate wrongdoing, Lyle still clearly holds that against his compatriot.

"You have Monty dropping the ball badly in that event and that is what you would call a form of cheating," he said.

Frustration

Montgomerie was heavily criticised by some of his fellow professionals at the time and went on to issue an apology for his "unwitting error" as well as donating his £24,000 prize money to charity.

Lyle, who won The Open in 1985 and the Masters in 1987, also courted controversy by withdrawing from The Open last year after only nine holes of the first round when the course was hit by terrible weather.

And it was when asked whether that incident had hindered his chances of being named Ryder Cup captain that Lyle reacted so strongly.

"What Monty did is far worse than someone pulling out because of sore knuckles," Lyle said.

"If anything was going to go against Monty, you would think, 'Yeah, well that's a case where he is breaking the rules'."

Lyle's words are sure to create some tension between the two veterans on the eve of The Open at Turnberry.

The 51-year-old is due to tee off at 12.14 on the Thursday, just an hour before Montgomerie, who will be partnered by American Zach Johnson and South Korea's KJ Choi, at 13.20.