Ernie Els claimed a wire-to-wire victory in the BMW International Open in Munich by one shot from Thomas Bjorn as he continued his preparations to defend his Open title next month.

Having only seen a links golf course via television, a visitor from America more than 10 years ago was fascinated to walk the hallowed sod of St Andrews.

The oldest golf championship in the world, the British Open, returns for the 11th time this week to the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire.