But there has not even been an acknowledgment of his approach from some and Lyle says: ‘‘It’s rude and it hurts.

‘‘They have a tough job these tournaments because they probably get applications from hundreds of people wanting to play.

‘‘But just a phone call would be nice to say they’re making a decision in a couple of weeks’ time or whatever. At least you know where you stand then.

‘‘I’m just a number over here half the time. That’s the unfortunate thing.’’

Lyle is not even in the Greater Greensboro Classic, the title he won twice in the 1980s, in two weeks’ time, but does add: ‘‘At least they replied.

‘‘I got a letter back a week ago saying they were considering it. You would think you would get one for that as a double winner.’’

One event he does not have to worry about his place in is the Masters. Winning in 1988 guaranteed him a yearly trip to Augusta for the rest of his days.

The shot he is remembered for is his seven-iron from the fairway bunker at the last he birdied the hole to beat Mark Calcavecchia by one but on his return this week Lyle immediately gave himself another, rather less magnificent memory.

‘‘I got on the first tee on Sunday and blitzed a drive, which surprised me straight from a six-hour drive, then hit a nine-iron to 10 or 12 feet.

‘‘But then my first putt went whizzing past the hole, off the green, down a slope and almost finished by the old ninth tee about 25 yards away.

‘‘I thought it would be a good two-putt from there, so putted up the hill, caught the hole, then spun out right and almost went off the front of the green.

‘‘Then I three-putted from 40 feet for a seven. Things haven’t changed here, I thought. Very hairy.

‘‘It was the sort of thing you expect to see in the Monday press day here!’’

Without a tournament success since the 1992 Volvo Masters and now without a US Tour card as well, Lyle is having to rely on endless hours of practice to get ready for Augusta.

He has missed the halfway cut five of the last seven years.