Sandy Lyle now seems destined never to win the one event missing from a glittering golfing CV – The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

After first contesting Scotland’s premier event in 1986 finishing T7th at Haggs Castle, Lyle has been one of the tournament’s biggest supporters with a combined 27 appearances.

Lyle’s best result was a four-stroke runner-up to Ian Woosnam in 199o at Gleneagles.

However, in recent years the now 59-year old Scot has failed to contest all four rounds and, in fact, has missed the cut in his past nine showings dating back to 2005.

Scotland’s Sandy Lyle ventures a short distance from his TPC Sawgrass home and meets up with Thomas Levet, and winner of the 2004 Scottish Open. (Photo … www.golfbytourmiss.com)

And with the Champions Tour Senior Players Championship being staged in Baltimore, Maryland the same week at this year’s Scottish Open, Lyle has advised Dundonald Links organisers he will not be seeking an invitation.

“I will not be playing the Scottish Open this given one of the bigger events on the Champions Tour is taking place that week, so I am going to tee-up in that event before then flying back into Manchester for The Open a week later,” he said.

“While I have not played every Scottish Open, I still have been a good supporter of the tournament and it will be disappointing not to be playing at Dundonald Links.

“So, the organisers have been very good over the years in affording me an exemption and I can’t complain in that regard.

“But I do want to play in the Seniors Players Championship and sadly it will mean missing the Scottish”.

Aside from his two Major victories Lyle won 16 other regular European Tour events including five other ‘Open’ victories including the Scandinavian Open and European Opens in 1979, two Italian Open wins in 1984 and 1992 while he captured the Madrid Open in 1983.