SANDY LYLE returned to the scene of his most infamous moment in golf and revealed he only walked off the course nine years ago due to a nerve problem that was only properly diagnosed five years ago. The Scots golfing legend drew heavy criticism after walking in after just 10 holes of the 2008 Open championship at Royal Birkdale after struggling in the poor conditions.

The perception at the time was that Lyle, the 1985 champion, had simply not fancied it given he was already 11 over in his opening round. Returning to the same venue, though, for what will likely be his second-last ever Open appearance, the 59 year-old insisted it was actually long-standing finger problem that meant he couldn’t continue that year.

He recalled: “I was 11 over after nine holes, was having an ugly time and couldn’t feel my right hand. And it was only 8.30 in the morning, if that.

“I made a decision that it wasn’t worth carrying on and irritating my hand any more, meaning I couldn’t have played the following week in my first Senor Open. I’ve played in terrible conditions before and since. So it wasn’t that. I thought it was arthritis. I even had X-rays done.

“But it was the nerve ends that run in between two of my fingers that caused the problem. I found out what caused it in the end.

“My angle of attack with the irons was too steep. The right hand was getting tortured. I had to re-route the swing and that motion was twisting and banging the nerves. I had it for 10 to 15 years.

“The cold weather didn’t help but I’d been struggling with it for a while, without making any fuss about it. It was sore and tender before I even practiced. Even shaking hands was painful.

"I discovered the root of the problem about five years ago. I had almost been ready to chuck the clubs, the bag and everything else in the trash. Todd Jones, the golf coach, had a look and it’s not an issue now.”