Sandy Lyle labels Carnoustie a joke

Former champion Sandy Lyle accused Open officials of turning the championship into "a joke" as Carnoustie lived up to its reputation today.

Tournament officials told players earlier this week they had not deliberately made conditions worse by adding fertiliser to make the rough grow.

"Nature has been the major factor. There has been huge rough growth since April and that's natural, not induced by us or the club," said Hugh Campbell, championship committee chairman.

But Lyle insisted the opposite was true and labelled the course "impossible" to play.

The 41-year-old Scot, who won the event in 1985 at Sandwich, struggled to an opening round of 85 and blasted: "They were fertilising the rough and watering it when I was here playing about two weeks ago.

"I think it's just a joke now.

"When someone like (playing partner) Fred Funk who is known for his accurate play and hitting the fairways all the time shoots 83, it's impossible.

"It has probably set me back six months now after all the hard work I've been doing getting my swing organised and it's just torn it apart.

"It's probably the hardest course I've ever played by a long, long way."