Sandy Lyle Says Colin Montgomerie Cheated in 2005

Scotland's Sandy Lyle has something countryman Colin Montgomerie doesn't -- a major victory. But Monty, who had a firm grip on the Best Player to Never Win a Major crown until age and Sergio Garcia caught up with him, beat out Lyle for the 2010 Ryder Cup captaincy. Small consolation, perhaps, but also a nod to the fact that he was Europe's best player the last two decades.

Throughout his career, Montgomerie has been known as much for his robot-like consistency as he was for his raging case of between-shots rabbit ears. Notorious for glaring into galleries, now he's having to deal with accusations from his colleagues. Interestingly, it's Lyle doing the finger-pointing.

Via ESPN.com's Jason Sobel, Lyle, the 1988 Masters winner, accused Monty of cheating in 2005. For those of you unfamiliar with the genteel nature of the sport, or the gentlemen who uphold the rules, that's tantamount to accusing, say, Sammy Sosa or Mark McGwire of taking steroids, making it into a dog and pony show and calling it a congressional hearing, then sullying their reputation and their Hall of Fame chances. But worse.

To the details:

When asked whether walking off the course after just 10 holes at Royal Birkdale during the opening round of last year's Open due to the cold conditions may have cost him the job, Lyle invoked a 2005 incident in which many players accused Monty of bending the rules after a weather delay at the Indonesia Open.

"That is far worse than someone pulling out because of sore knuckles," Lyle said on Monday at Turnberry, site of this week's Open. "You have Monty dropping the ball badly -- that's what you would call a form of cheating. If anything was going to be held against Monty, you would think, 'Yeah, well that's a case where he was breaking the rules.' And there have been other times where he has been called in to see videos."

Specifically, in a tournament in Jakarta, Monty allegedly improved his lie in a bunker after a suspension of play. Rules officials said he had done nothing wrong, and that was that (Monty even donated his winnings to charity). Until Open Championship week, anyway.

Prior to Lyle's comments, Montgomerie was asked about the possibility of naming Lyle as vice captain for the '10 Ryder Cup.

"Good question ... I met with Sandy yesterday, we had a chat. And I haven't decided as to who or what, depending on who makes the team and who doesn't make the team, and we'll select that vice captain sometime during the qualification system. But I haven't made up my mind."

And, who knows, maybe that hasn't changed. Monty is familiar with controversy and has a keen knack for getting past perceived slights. Well, unless it's Nick Faldo.

Latest British Open Photos

HONG KONG July 15, 2009 (AFP) - AFP photo coverage advisory Tel: (852) 2829 6206 Duty editor: Laurent --ASIA-- URUMQI, China: Situation as develops PAKISTAN: Continued military operation against Taliban militants AFGHANISTAN: US military troop increase as available TOKYO: Political situation as develops JAKARTA: Political developments following vote in presidential elections SYDNEY: Visit by former US vice-president Al Gore --MIDEAST-- BAGHDAD: Situation as develops TEHRAN: Developments as available SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Two-day Non-Aligned Movement summit begins ABU DHABI: US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visits BEIRUT: Russia's deputy foreign minister and special envoy for the Middle East peace process, Alexander Sultanov, visits --EUROPE-- THE HAGUE: Former Liberian president Charles Taylor stands trial STRASBOURG: The new European parliament holds the first plenary session of its five-year term --AFRICA-- --AMERICAS-- HONDURAS: Situation following coup d'etat PERU: Second hearing of ex-president Alberto Fujimoris trial on corruption charges COSTA RICA: Visit of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli BUENOS AIRES: South American health ministers meet to discuss swine flu WASHINGTON: Hearings for Sonia Sotomayor to be an associate judge of the US Supreme Court WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a foreign policy address KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: Launch of US space shuttle Endeavour, as develops HAWAII: Visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito --SPORTS-- FIELD HOCKEY: Women's Champions Trophy hockey in Sydney CYCLING: Tour de France GOLF: Build-up to the British Open TENNIS: ATP at Bastad and Stuttgart; WTA at Palermo and Prague Your opinion matters - Online customer satisfaction survey Click here to win one of 50 copies of the AFP Yearbook for 2009. http://www.sphinxonline.net/afpmarketing/photo2008/start.htm (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa prepares to putt on the green of the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa plays out of the rough on the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Kenny Perry of the United States gestures during a press conference during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Rebecca Naden, PA) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE **

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan takes a shot during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan prepares a shot during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Padraig Harrington of Ireland, right, signs autographs for fans during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Padraig Harrington of Ireland putts on the 15th green, as Ailsa Craig Island is seen in the background, during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan takes a shot from the 16th tee during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)

7-14-2009 @ 7:34PM

fulbrotherlove said...

Your wrong Paskulo, Why do you thing that Basketball players, Football players, Race car drivers, Hockey players, Baseball players all retire to play golf, Because Golf is the game and the sport all all time. Get a life and try to golf, but then agian you can't because you suck.

7-14-2009 @ 6:22PM

linksmaker said...

Best Golf Book ever!: Golf's Sacred Journey-Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. I read it in a day, easy read.

7-14-2009 @ 6:25PM

AC said...

Big Monty always looks like he has bad heartburn to me.

7-14-2009 @ 10:29PM

T. Vance said...

Is it true that Monty is gay?

7-14-2009 @ 6:27PM

Janeyre said...

Paskulo, if Gold isn't a sport, what is it? Just curious...

7-14-2009 @ 6:40PM

Paul said...

I had a personal run in with Colon " misspelled because it's closer to the rectum and that's what he is ... a "rectum" hole. I was in charge of the 16th hole at Oakmont in 1992 U.S. Open and on the last day of the Open he came to the tee glaring at me. "Step back Marshall" he snapped at me. Now I had been standing in the same spot all week and many times he went past and said nothing. "STEP BACK I TOLD YOU" he roared at me even after I had moved about 8 feet out of his sight. I looked at him and said..." No wonder nobody like you "Colon" ( referring to his being a rectum. He said " My name is Colin, not Colon" To which I replied... "Not in my book, Your more like an A@@hole than anybody on this course." He glared at me and hit his shot kind of short if I remember. As he walked off the tee I said to him audibly " I hope your freakin 4 putt" Well the next day I couldn't marshall because of work and when he was in the playoffs with Lauren Roberts and Ernie Els.. on the second hole he was , I believe, 2 or 3 shots behind already. He never came close to winning and Ernie won it all. I've never had any respect for "Colon" Montgomerie since. And yes, I am a devoted golfer with an 11 handicap and know what concentration means but he took it to the hilt constantly. Good riddance "Colon", I won't miss you.

7-14-2009 @ 6:45PM

Paskulo said...

It bears reiterating again:
(1) Golf is not a sport.
(2) Golfers are not athletes.
(3) Eldrick Woods is not black.

7-14-2009 @ 7:05PM

jmbkanga2 said...

Puhleeze! Give us a break already! Sandy's whining about something he CLAIMS happened FOUR YEARS AGO! And he's whining about another player behind his back? That's poor sportsmanship. Sandy's making himself look even smaller than he is and I have no respect for a grown man crying like a little girl when someone on the playground picks on her. Wah wah wah!

7-14-2009 @ 7:06PM

cdubok said...

If you walk 4 days, carry your clubs, take no gimme's. use no mulligans, don't add in a handicap AND contend for the lead IT IS A SPORT AND YOU ARE AN ATHLETE. I don't know what color Eldrick Woods is but he can easily do all the above.

7-14-2009 @ 7:20PM

George said...

I love Golf but I have to agree with it not being a sport,it is merely a game. I have walked a course 4 days in a row,drank beer,and smoked stogies,does that make me an athlete? And btw cdubok,Eldrick hasn't carried his own clubs in 15 years.

7-14-2009 @ 7:24PM

jradio22man said...

Thats why they wear dresses in Scotland

7-14-2009 @ 7:25PM

Bill said...

I was in a match once and inadvertently mmoved my ball. Nobody saw me, it didn't matter, but afterwords it bothered me..I cheated...IT has bothered me for years, Every time I go near that spot it bothers me...Such as the rues of golf
Ss far as my wife doing some other dude...poor bastered probaby never learned brail. ( no spell check, sorry )

7-14-2009 @ 7:31PM

Mike said...

Who the heck is Sandy Lyle and why should I care what he says?

7-14-2009 @ 8:37PM

jwemrw said...

Sour grapes! If someone, anyone, is cheating; you call it then, not four years after the fact.

Lyle will not be Ryder Cup Captain. Maybe for good reason, maybe not. But this will certainly not help his chances next go around.

7-14-2009 @ 9:00PM

Jim said...

If golf is not a sport, but merely a game, than just "what" is a sport? Baseball, basketball and football are games. These 3 take eye hand coordination. Hitting a 90+ MPH baseball with a bat is probably the ultimate in eye/hand coordination. But taking a pitching wedge from 150 yards (pros, not me) and shaping it around a tree to within 10 feet of the pin is a game, but that is the eye/hand coordination. Now granted, while I consider golf a sport (at least on the professional level), I would consider it a "game" on my level. But sometimes I hit a good shot. Therefore, I come back.

7-14-2009 @ 9:01PM

psmike57 said...

i played golf one day and cheated like a sob. big deal .if ya dont get caught it aint cheating

7-14-2009 @ 9:52PM

Butch said...

Aside from boxing (a tough sport) and water polo ( a tough sport) golf is extremely difficult and perhaps one of the most difficult sports to be consistent at, plain and simple!

7-14-2009 @ 10:12PM

lumpoco said...

I have never heard of Sandy Lyle. But I have heard of Colin Montgomerie. I am guessing that Lyle is the actual cheater...or worse a crybaby who raises a fuss in order to get what he wants. Is that what a captain of the Ryder Cup team is suppose to be like? I think not. But then again I'm not a bloody European. Maybe European men are suppose to whine and cry like babies.

7-14-2009 @ 10:24PM

walkinthedogdude said...

when he was younger and at the top of the european tour list, monty liked to pop off about how great he and the other europeans were. he was more than smug about it. but then he would play a major and fall right on his face. granted, the gallery in the US was a tad rude, but he should have expected that after the nasty things he said. As the years rolled by, monty just kept failing and failing on US soil. strangely, the american galleries got to feeling sympathetic towards the big oaf, at times even shouting their encouragement (even if it did come from the condines of the porta potties).
i'll be watching, of course, and rooting for the US team. let's just hope this flap from Lyle doesn't cause the gallery to revisit its old behavior. then again, it may be entertaining.