By Rob Hodgetts

My quest to be captain is ongoing - I'm looking at 2010, that's my cut-off Sandy Lyle

Sandy Lyle has revealed he would like to see the European Ryder Cup qualifying season shortened to the six months before the event.

The 48-year-old was one of skipper Ian Woosnam's assistants at the K Club and is bidding to be captain in 2010.

Lyle said the USA's revamped selection process should cause "barely a flicker of the eyebrow" for Europe.

But he said: "I'd like to see our qualifying down to the last six months so you get guys who are playing well."

Under the present system, European qualifying runs for 12 months, beginning in early September the year before the event.

Five players qualify from the world rankings list, the next eligible five come from a European points list and the captain has two wildcard picks.

I can't see why we have to follow the States Sandy Lyle

America's new captain Paul Azinger, meanwhile, will now have four wildcard picks instead of two, while the top-eight automatic spots will be decided on an earnings basis, rather than the number of top-10 finishes as in 2006.

But Lyle, a five-time Ryder Cup veteran, was unfazed by the USA's new system.

"We've got the US on the run. They've had their backsides kicked and want to turn it around. We expected something," he told BBC Sport.

"Azinger will do a good job. He's a younger version of Tom Lehman but perhaps a bit more outspoken. He won't be frightened to put, say, Tiger Woods in his place or keep egos in check.

"Lehman did a good job, and was quite aggressive considering he's a calm person, but his players didn't perform.

Lyle (left) and Montgomerie were proud to fly the flag at the K Club

"The four picks is interesting. You could get somebody lying 50th in the money list, or some of the old campaigners to put a bit of fear into the other team.

"But I think Europe's reaction will be in a flicker of the eyebrow.

"We've got great depth and strength right now, the system is about as good as it gets and the results are good so I can't see why we have to follow the States."

Lyle, the 1985 Open champion and winner of the 1988 Masters, returned to the Ryder Cup fold for the first time since 1987 at the K Club in Ireland.

The Scot was one of Europe's big five during the 1980s, along with Woosnam, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer.

But with Faldo set to captain the Ryder Cup side at Valhalla in 2008, Lyle will be the only one of that quintet not to have led the European team.

"It was nice to be involved again in Ireland. The thing that opened my mind is the sheer size of the event now," he said.

"But my quest to be captain is ongoing. I just have to sit back and wait. It's still a long way away yet. The one I'm looking at is 2010, that's my cut-off. It's too late after that."