Els happier as he bounces back

Ernie Els swept his four-year-old daughter Samantha into his huge arms and planted a kiss tenderly on her cheek after a recovery round in the British Open.

The British Open’s defending champion had just recorded a second round 68 at Royal St George’s to reacquaint himself with the form which had brought him the title 12 months ago – and suddenly the world, at least the Kent shoreline around Sandwich, seemed a much sunnier place.