Tiger blames technology for failure

Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, the top two golfers in the world, have complained that major titles are being decided by technology rather than skill.

Peter Dawson, secretary of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club which governs the game around most of the globe, today revealed Woods, Els and other top contenders expressed their concerns to him during The Open at Royal Troon.

The championship was won for the second season by a rank outsider, American Todd Hamilton, and comes after a year in which all four majors fell to first-time winners.

Dawson said: “Players at the top of their profession are saying something needs to be done. These players believe that with old equipment the gap between them and the slightly lesser player was wider than it is with new equipment.

"There is no doubt that largeheaded drivers are easier to hit, and that the golf ball today goes further, spins less and therefore hooks and slices less. This has made it more difficult for the very top player to differentiate himself from the rest."

Ian Poulter's trousers fashioned from the Union flag are to be auctioned in aid of the Glasgow Children's Hospital which treated his baby son Luke for suspected meningitis.