Lyle planning to lead from the front

Sandy Lyle will lead Shropshire’s Open Championship charge from the front at Royal Birkdale on Thursday - 23 years after hoisting aloft the Claret Jug.

The 50-year-old Shrewsbury-born star is in the fifth group out for the third Major of the year at 7.14am, playing the first two rounds alongside England’s Graeme Storm and Scott Strange of Australia.

But it will be a long wait for the remaining trio in the field with county links.

Simon Wakefield, based on the Shropshire border in Eccleshall, will begin his quest at 3.04pm, with American Jay Williamson - runner-up in the John Deere Classic last weekend - and South Africa’s James Kingston.

Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata and Germany’s Alex Cejka will keep former Shropshire & Herefordshire Open, Amateur and Matchplay champion Peter Baker company in the 3.48 tee-off-time.

And former Hill Valley man Jonathan Lomas will be the final player on the Merseyside course on Thursday. He tees off in the last group at 4.21 alongside fellow Englishman Peter Appleyard and Yoshinobu Tsukada of Japan.

Meanwhile, Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo has warned his players they cannot afford to ease up - even if they think they are already assured of a place in his team.

The likes of Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Robert Karlsson all look set to feature against America at Valhalla in September.

That would leave seven spots remaining, two of which are captain’s picks, and Faldo stressed: “No one should relax as my picks may not be decided until deadline time.”