Sandy Lyle returned his highest total in 29 appearances at the Open championship on Sunday - just 48 hours after he thought he might be about to revive his career.

Only one over par at halfway at Royal Troon, Scotland's 1985 champion finished on the 19-over mark of 303, two strokes worse than his aggregate at Lytham two years ago.

Lyle, now 46, was first to tee off following his Saturday 81 and shot a closing 79 in just three hours and in the company of a local assistant because otherwise he would have been on his own.

"Painless because it was quick," he said.

"I was hoping to do some damage after two good days, but then it went haywire.

"I was plugged in the gorse, duffed a seven-iron, missed a three-footer and then went out of bounds. It just went silly and scrappy."

Lyle lost his European Tour card last season and has been battling this year to get it back. But he lies 110th on the Order of Merit and come November only the top 115 earn places on next season's circuit.

At least his early start meant he was home in time to see the 2004 winner being crowned.

"I'll be watching with interest with a couple of glasses of wine," he added.

"It's very, very difficult out there and they have been pretty nasty with the pin placings."