Lyle set to lose tour card

Sandy Lyle’s 25-year hold of a European Tour card ended today when he quit on the fourth hole of his second round at the Madrid Open.

The former Open and US Masters champion, who came into the week needing a top-nine finish to remain among Europe’s top-40 career money-winners, required a miracle after an opening 77, but instead all he got were ‘flu-like’ symptoms.