Golf-Ballesteros calls for reprieve for old rival Lyle
( 2003-10-23 16:22) (Agencies)
Seve Ballesteros has called for a change to European Tour rules to rescue the
card of one of his biggest former rivals, Sandy Lyle.
Lyle is in danger of losing his tour place after 25 years because he has
failed to earn enough money in 2003 to claim a place in the top 115 players who
automatically return next year.
He has also dropped to 41st in the all-time career money list which ranks
golfers according to their overall prize earnings + only the top 40 currently
get Tour cards.
Five-times major winner Ballesteros said the latter criteria was unfair
because Lyle, a former British Open and US Masters champion, had collected most
of his 18 Tour wins when prize money was relatively low.
"Sandy has been a great champion and still brings in the gallery, he's been
good for the European Tour and the Ryder Cup and those points should be taken
into consideration," said the Spaniard.
Scotsman Lyle, 45, won the first of his three European order of merit titles
in 1979 after collecting just under 40,000 pounds ($67,530) in prize money. Last
year's winner, South African Retief Goosen, pocketed 1.5
million.
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