Sandy Lyle was assistant captain to Woosnam at the 2006 Ryder Cup

The Welshman thinks Scot Lyle would be an ideal candidate to lead Europe when the Ryder Cup is staged in Wales at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.

Lyle was Woosnam's assistant when he skippered Europe to a joint Ryder Cup record win at the K Club in 2006.

"When he was with me Sandy was really good," said Woosnam. "I really enjoyed having him there, I valued his advice and he did what he needed to do."

Lyle's fellow countryman Colin Montgomerie is also among the favourites to lead Europe in Woosnam's homeland.

606: DEBATE Would Sandy Lyle make a good Ryder Cup captain?

But former world number one Woosnam said: "It would be lovely to see Sandy do it."

Woosnam and Lyle were playing colleagues in three Ryder Cups during the 1980s before they teamed up for their K Club heroics.

The possibility of Woosnam standing again has also been mentioned because of the Welsh venue.

And despite singing Lyle's praises, Woosnam has not completely ruled out taking the reigns again.

The 1991 Masters champion insisted: "I'd only do it if the players wanted me to.

"If they did then I'd have a look at it."

Lyle was part of Europe's "Big Five" generation in the 1980s and 1990s alongside Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer.

During that period they won 16 majors between them and Lyle is the only one not to have been handed the Ryder Cup captaincy.

The captain for the 2010 event will be chosen following this September's 2008 Ryder Cup showdown at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, where Faldo will lead Europe against the USA.

Lyle, who turned 50 earlier this month, said if he is not handed the role for 2010 then he does not see himself ever doing it.

"That's my cut-off - it's too late after that," he explained.

Lyle and Woosnam are both embarking on new careers on the European Seniors Tour.

Woosnam is due to make his debut in Barbados next week after more than a year battling post-viral chronic fatigue syndrome.