Americans Brad Faxon and Brett Quigley instantly made their presence felt at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland today.

It was Padraig Harrington who arrived last week talking about trying to kill two birds with one stone – win a world title and win in Ireland.

Ernie Els withdrew from the Dunhill Links Championship before his final round after his wife Liezl went into labour.

ERNIE ElS, the man they call the Big Easy because of his laid back manner, coped with pressure he never really knew existed before emerging as the 131st Open champion at Muirfield last evening.

Paul McGinley and Paul Lawrie, tied for the overnight lead in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, have joined a concerted effort to hit back at criticism of the £3.5m event.