‘Ridiculous’ declared Ian Woosnam and backed by fellow European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Langer that champion Scot Sandy Lyle was never appointed a fellow European Ryder Cup team leader.
“I think it is ridiculous, really”, said Woonsam.
And no sooner had Woosnam made the statement and Langer jumped straight in adding: “Sandy should have been there. No doubt about it.”
Woosnam and Langer were sitted at a table being interviewed by SKY Sports and with Lyle also at the table along with fellow Masters winner Nick Faldo.
Sandy Lyle appearing on SKY Sports and addressing the hurt of not being appointed a European Ryder Cup Captain.
Woosie said: “The thing is that it’s a hell of a shame that Scotland’s best golfer has never been (Ryder Cup) captain,
“I don’t know why. It is a big responsibility but then he would have good people around him, good friends that could help out or whatever.
“I just think it is ridiculous, really”.
Langer added: “It is a shame really. The same thing happened to Larry Nelson in America.
The guy has the best record in the history of the Ryder Cup, Larry Nelson. Great guy, very intelligent and I’ve known him a long time as a friend, and he was side-lined for the whole time and got to do it.
“And, you know, Sandy should have been there. No doubt.”
Woosie, nodding his head back-and-forward, added: “We should have all been there, together.”
Lyle made his Ryder Cup debut in 1976 and proceeded to tee-up for Europe in 1981, ’83 and then was a member of the winning ’85 and ’87 sides.
He boasts an individual record of 18 matches, 7 wins, 9 losses and 2 halves.
The soon-to-be 68-year-old was asked if not being appointed captain, leaves any scar.
Lyle said: “It might be but just like Nick (Faldo), you just delete it and move on.
“I’ve had great fun in the Ryder Cup. I’ve done my bit. It would have been a nice thing at the end of your career to say I’ve been a Ryder Cup captain, as well.
“It didn’t happen, so I’ll just delete it and move onto the next thing that might be … family?”
Woosie said: “People don’t know that Sandy pulled out of one of the Ryder Cup’s. We’re talking about how badly we want the Ryder Cup to win but Sandy felt at the time (1989), he wasn’t playing good enough and ….
Lyle interrupted saying: “I made the phone call to Tony (Jacklin – captain) saying the last couple of weeks I’ve given it a shot but I’m playing absolutely horrible and I don’t want to let the team down. I said, of course I will be hammered by the press, so I gave my spot to Christy O’Connor Jnr as it was going to be his last Ryder Cup, and it worked out well.”
“Sandy should have been a Captain, no doubt about it.”
Sandy Lyle and the surviving Big 5 reflect on the disappointment of Lyle never having been made a Ryder Cup captain pic.twitter.com/jNzsHVTeAm
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 11, 2026
