The two-time major champion, who turned 50 in February, has been linked with the role at the 2010 matches at Celtic Manor in Wales along with 2006 European skipper Ian Woosnam.

Lyle made his Champions Tour debut earlier this month but with the Ryder Cup not scheduled to be staged in his native Scotland until 2014, Lyle said today that he believed his opportunities of captaining the European team in the biennial matches against the United States were diminishing.

"If the chance arises, yes, I would take the opportunity," Lyle said as he took part in a press conference with Woosnam ahead of this weekend's Ginn Championship at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Florida.

"It's not in my hands right now and it depends on whoever is on the committee. I don't know, but obviously Ian would be interested in doing it and it would be fitting if he were to do it for Wales, being Welsh.

"The Ryder Cup is I think going to be in Scotland in 2014 and that won't happen as far as I'm concerned.

"My timescale is probably the next couple of years. I'd be too far gone as far as knowing the players you're playing with on a regular basis and they would also probably forget you as well as a captain because you're too far gone from the European Tour."

Woosnam, who will make his Champions Tour debut this weekend in Florida, appointed Lyle as one of his vice captains for the 2006 victory over the US at the K Club in Ireland and repeated his desire to see his schoolboy rival succeed Faldo in 2010.

Woosnam continued: "I've seen what's been said in the press in Britain and Europe, my name has been associated with Sandy to put his name forward for Celtic Manor in Wales.

"It would be nice for me to do the captaincy again but I've done my once and I think it's time just to do it once.

"There's so many great players who have a chance to do the Ryder Cup and I think it's going to be such a shame if Sandy doesn't get the opportunity to have the captaincy.

"Maybe it would nice if Sandy got it and I was maybe his vice captain. That would be brilliant and he deserves it.

"He was the first one (from the UK) to win a Masters and the next guy to win a British Open since Tony Jacklin and he's done a lot for golf in Britain and Europe and he deserves to be that captain."