Lyle makes public apology to Colin Montgomerie

Sandy Lyle has apologised to Colin Montgomerie for bringing up a 2005 incident in which his fellow Scot was accused of cheating.
Lyle addressed the media today at a news conference at Turnberry -- two days before the start of the Open -- after comments emerged in the Scottish media over his failed bid to be named European captain for next year's Ryder Cup.
Lyle said he was frustrated at repeatedly being asked whether his decision to drop out of last year's Open (after only nine holes) on the first day may have hurt his chances of being named Ryder Cup captain. Instead, the job went to Montgomerie.
In an interview with British newspapers published this morning, Lyle said that Montgomerie had been guilty of a far worse action, which could be interpreted as cheating, in the 2005 Indonesian Open, where Montgomerie appeared to take an incorrect drop in a bunker.
Lyle said he thought that would have counted against Monty when potential Ryder Cup captains were being sifted.
Almost certainly, the European Tour brought pressure to bear on Lyle to make a public apology at a Press Conference arranged by the Tour.
John Hopkins of The Times, writing on the website THE TIMES ON LINE, says:
Sandy Lyle is a lovely bloke, but what on earth is he doing saying these things? Did he honestly think he had a chance of getting the Ryder Cup captaincy? If he did, then that has gone.
There is as much chance of Lyle being named captain in a future Ryder Cup as there is of Young Tom Morris.
So has any possibility of being named a vice-captain to Montgomerie at Celtic Manor next year, which Montgomerie said was a possibility last week at Loch Lomond.