Poulter to auction those trousers

Ian Poulter may have challenged golfing traditionalists with that daily fashion parade at The Open, but his heart's in the right place.

The trousers fashioned from the Union flag that caused such a sensation on the opening day of the tournament are to be auctioned in aid of the Glasgow Children's Hospital which treated Poulter's seven-week-old son Luke for suspected meningitis on the Tuesday of the major.

Fortunately, Luke responded to antibiotics and Poulter said: "That was a massive relief. The hospital was brilliant throughout and I can't do enough to thank them."

The prognosis for those suffering from "Poulter Fashionitis" is not so good because he vowed to go on testing golf's dress codes at the fourth and final major of the year, the US PGA Championship, and at the World Cup if he makes the England team. The 28-year-old from Milton Keynes, who finished tied for 25th place at Troon, said: "I'll be hitting the tailor hard with some fun ideas. Some people may take offence but my golf game would not be any different if I wore a black T-shirt and trousers.

"The main point is I've proved to myself and a few others that I can play in majors and play well. It's only a matter of time before I win one."