By Rob Hodgetts

Lyle was a key member of Europe's Ryder Cup renaissance

Sandy Lyle admits he is still hoping to be a Ryder Cup captain one day as he prepares to assist Ian Woosnam at the K Club in two weeks.

The Scot, 48, was last involved in the Ryder Cup in 1987 as a member of the European team that won in America.

But the five-time Cup star is hoping a strong showing in Ireland will pave the way to lead the side in Wales in 2010.

"Do I hope to be captain? There's still a small chance, yes," said Lyle. "I'm looking at four years, after Faldo."

England's Nick Faldo has already been named as the 2008 European captain for the match in Valhalla, Kentucky.

The advanced appointment was unprecedented but Lyle, a key member of the European Ryder Cup resurgence since the 1980s, still hopes his time may come, though there could be strong competition from the likes of Colin Montgomerie.

I've not got a clue if Faldo would pick me to be a vice-captain Sandy Lyle

"I'll still have some hair left and I'll still be involved in golf," said Lyle, speaking to BBC Sport.

"With the Seniors Tour I'll be in quite a strong mode there, and that would be a good time to be involved down in Wales if there is a chance available."

Lyle, who won the Open in 1985 and the Masters in 1988, will work alongside DJ Russell to help Woosnam and his vice-captains Peter Baker and Des Smyth at the K Club.

But he is disappointed not to have been involved earlier. He is particularly upset that he was not invited to help out in 2004 by Bernard Langer, with whom he played a number of times in the Ryder Cup, notably at Muirfield in 1987.

"I've just been overlooked," he said. "Maybe I just haven't been forward enough. I might have had a good chance with Bernhard but he picked some other players, but that's the way it goes.

"I've not got a clue if Faldo would pick me to be a vice-captain. If I do a good job in the next couple of weeks you never know what might be available."

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Lyle insists that the storm created by Thomas Bjorn's criticism - since retracted - of Woosnam's wildcard picks, and the captain's handling of the process, will blow over.

"Ian had to make a decision and whatever he does there's going to be somebody who will be critical," said Lyle.

"It's a no-win situation. We all know being a captain and choosing has always been a very dodgy business but this situation will blow over and quickly become history and we'll get on with it.

"We've all been involved in golf for 30 odd years and there's highs and lows in the game, like anything else, dealing with the press, dealing with people and companies.