Former Open and Masters champion Sandy Lyle seemed to be enjoying the fact today that he had made his first cut of the year on the European Tour.

The 48-year-old, who lost his card last season after finishing only 148th on the Order of Merit, was making his sixth appearance of 2006 in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

After staying alive in the event by the skin of his teeth with opening rounds of 75 and 71 Lyle went to the turn in a two-under 34, then picked up further birdies on the 449-yard 13th and long 16th.

At four under he was up into a tie for 18th, but still six shots behind halfway leader Colin Montgomerie, who took a two-stroke advantage over Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey into the weekend.

Lyle will be involved at the Ryder Cup this September for the first time since 1987, acting as one of Ian Woosnam's assistant captains at the K Club.

Montgomerie and Casey lie fourth and sixth in the race for places and should be there, while seventh-placed Paul McGinley resumed on three under and had a chance to improve his position too.