Lyle: Walked off
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Sandy Lyle has written to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in order to fully explain his decision to walk off during the first round of the Open Championship.
The 1985 champion was 11-over-par when he quit after ten holes of the first round, complaining he had injured his fingers in the wet and windy conditions at Royal Birkdale.
The Scot received widespread criticism for his decision with many feeling he had simply given up rather than gone down with an injury.
One of those to question him was R&A chief executive Peter Dawson, who commented: "It's disappointing. I have to say that professional golfers should complete their round.
"You wonder what they'd say if a recorder showed the same attitude and went home at lunchtime so they couldn't post their score."
On Saturday, Dawson revealed he had spoken to Lyle to clear the air and now regretted some of the comments that had been made.
"I had a letter from Sandy and we spoke on the phone this morning," Dawson told the BBC. "He does have some problem with his fingers.
"I think he regrets walking off and I regret one or two remarks we made but I think it's a closed issue."
