Monty laments Lyle slur

Colin Montgomerie admits the row with Sandy Lyle at The Open this week could affect the pair’s relationship forever.

Lyle, a rival the Ryder Cup captaincy which eventually went to Montgomerie, brought up the “cheating” controversy his fellow Scot was involved in four years ago in Jakarta.

Lyle apologised for jeopardising Montgomerie’s Turnberry preparations but did not withdraw his comment that what Montgomerie did in Indonesia – incorrectly replacing his ball after a weather delay – was “a form of what you would call cheating”.

Montgomerie said: “It has to affect whatever friendship we had, doesn’t it?

“I just think it is so sad after I had supported his candidacy to be Ryder Cup captain through the whole process.

“Why does he feel the need to take it out on me? Is it my fault that the committee decided that they would like a younger man?”

Asked if there was any chance Lyle could now be vice captain for the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie told the Daily Mail: “I think you know the answer to that one.”