A SECOND member of European golf’s ‘Big Five’ is to play in Wales this summer – double Major winner Sandy Lyle has confirmed he will compete in the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open.
Former Open and Masters champion Lyle will join Ian Woosnam at Conwy in June, having celebrated his 50th birthday last month.
Apart from hoping to make an impression on the European Seniors Tour, Lyle wants to develop strong links with Wales as he hopes to be the European Ryder Cup captain at Celtic Manor in 2010.
Lyle – who was one of Woosnam’s Ryder Cup deputies in 2006 – became, in 1985, the first Briton to with The Open since Tony Jacklin 16 years earlier.
He was also the first Briton to win the Masters in Augusta and is credited with helping to transform the face of European golf along with Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer.
Among the star names joining Lyle to battle it out for the £75,000 first prize fund will be former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and Ryder Cup players Costantino Rocca and José Rivero.
Defending champion Carl Mason, of England will be looking to make it a hat-trick, having also won the event in 2005.
“It will be an honour to play in the 2008 Ryder Cup Wales Seniors,” said Lyle.
“Many people already know of my desire to be Ryder Cup captain and I hope this is the start of an exciting relationship with the Ryder Cup Wales team.
Andy Stubbs, managing director of the European Seniors Tour, said, “The name of Sandy Lyle is instantly recognisable around the world.
“I’m sure the Welsh public and golfing fans from across the British Isles will turn out in their droves to welcome him home.”
