Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher believes Sandy Lyle is "out of order" for accusing current skipper Colin Montgomerie of cheating.

Ahead of The Open, Lyle has raked up the incident involving Montgomerie four years ago, when the former European No1 incorrectly replaced his ball in a better position at the Indonesian Open.

Lyle, responding to suggestions he might have been snubbed for the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2010 after walking off the course in bad weather in last year's Open, said: "What Monty did was far worse. That was going to go against Monty, you would think; that's a case where he is breaking the rules."

Gallacher, who captained Europe in 1991, 1993 and 1995, said: "Sandy is bitter at not being given the captaincy and what he has now done is below the belt. Monty's explanation was accepted and everyone should have put the matter behind them."