Sandy Lyle admits Carnoustie may be his last appearance in The Open

Sandy Lyle has opened up about the emotions of making what could be his last ever appearance at The Open Championship in 2018.

The 1985 Open champion, who turns 60 in February, has played in the tournament 42 times having made his debut aged 16, but next year's competition at Carnoustie will be the last time he qualifies automatically.

Lyle won The Open at Sandwich, beating Payne Stewart by one shot, and three years later became the first British golfer to claim The Masters title.

Lyle's illustrious career also saw him win the 1987 Players Championship as well as making five appearances in the Ryder Cup, but he has particularly special memories of The Open and says the thought of playing his last round in the tournament leaves him feeling emotional.

"It's kind of a scary thing when you go back to the boyhood dreams of playing in The Open and managing to play The Open Championship at the age of 16 to now coming up to my last year, possibly," said Lyle.

"It does get you in the throat definitely. I'm not really an emotional person but it does put a bit of a lump in the throat.

"The time has come to make way for other guys to play."

He added: "I actually got quite emotional when I played at The Open when it was at St Andrews when it was [Jack] Nicklaus' last trip. I thought this is possibly the last time I'll be walking over this bridge in The Open Championship.

"Unless I do well in the seniors event or qualify through other sources or go to the regional qualifying.

"43 years I've played in The Open. It has been a wonderful experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."