Lyle not be back

As former champ, he gets an invite but at 50, time to call it a day

If there's one image that will stick with amateur golfers across the UK after this year's Open, it's going to be Sandy Lyle storming away from Royal Birkdale.

Because we know exactly how he feels. On a wet and windy first day, Lyle – and many others – struggled to overcome the conditions.

Most persevered but Lyle, already 11 over at the 10th, decided sod this for a game of (wet) soldiers and quit. 'It is not very nice when you are only an hour and a half, two hours into The Open and you have basically chucked it,' he admitted afterwards.

'I don’t make a habit of it. This is the only course I have walked off twice, which is not good.'

While the Royal & Ancient chief exec, Peter Dawson, had little sympathy - 'professional golfers should complete a round. That is what they are paid to do.' - Lyle was at least refreshingly honest.

'I couldn’t really hit the ball,' he explained. 'It was total meltdown to be honest.'

With Woods out due to injury, the Open is, er, very open this year. And the weather also appears to be seeing off some likely challengers, with Phil Mickelson (the world's number two) finishing nine over, and Ernie Els and Vijay Singh already 10 over.

However Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell – probably more used to playing in the rain – managed a one under first round to secure an ovenight joint lead with Rocco Mediate and Robert Allenby.

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