"It's a bit of a mystery to me why it hasn't happened, given the number of times I have been nominated."

Jim Black reports that Sandy Lyle is understandably miffed at his Hall of Fame omission. If it's any consolation he didn't miss by much.

Lyle made his admission when attending the Golf Tourism Scotland Gold Standard Awards dinner at the Macdonald Marine Hotel, North Berwick. He said: "When my career ends it won't be a particular disappointment if I have never been Ryder Cup captain.

"I would never close the door on it happening, of course, but it looks like Jose Maria Olazabal will be the next captain in America in two years time and I think Gleneagles in 2014 is too far away for me. The age gap between me and the youngster players will be a little too severe by then and that is a big factor. Monty was still playing with and seeing the players on the European Tour whereas I am too far away from it now. But inclusion in the World Golf Hall of Fame would mean more to me than the Ryder Cup captaincy. It's a bit of a mystery to me why it hasn't happened, given the number of times I have been nominated. But it's the one big ambition I have left and it would be a nice way to end my career."