GOLF chiefs fear immigration cheats have used the British Open tournament in a scam to slip into the country.

Organisers discovered that 53 out of 58 entrants - all from Nigeria and Ghana - failed to turn up for their games in the qualifying round.

Royal and Ancient officials, who run the competition, are checking records to identify and track down the players.

The Home Office said they probably came on six-month visitors' visas and will not be breaking the law until they run out.

A Daily Mirror investigation learned that 47 out of 48 Nigerians never turned up for their games. Neither did six out of 10 Ghanaians at 16 venues across Britain on Monday.

All entrants for next week's championship at Muirfield had to provide references from professional federations or if they are amateurs their club secretaries and pay a ?100 fee.

Enclosed with the entry form was a map of the venues for qualifying games highlighting major airports nearby.

Most Africans who failed to show were due to play at three golf clubs - all near airports.

Hadley Wood in North London, 16 miles from Heathrow, was expecting 11 Nigerians and three Ghanaians but none checked in. At Orsett in Essex, 30 minutes from Stansted, 13 Nigerians and two Ghanaians failed to arrive.

At Trentham, Staffs, midway between Manchester and Birmingham International airports, only one Nigerian out of 10 arrived.

Orsett secretary Simon Sheppard said: "We thought the absenteeism strange."

Hadley Wood club said: "We expect some no-shows but most ring to give an explanation. We had no such calls."

The R&A said: "Every effort was taken to check applications but it must be stressed that we check golf credentials, not visa qualifications."

The Home Office said: "Provided they do not breach visa conditions - do not work - they would not be here illegally. But after six months they become overstayers liable to immediate deportation."

The Nigerian High Commission in London insisted their nationals would not use the Open as a loophole.

Peter Ogbonnaya, head of information said: "This cannot be true - maybe they just didn't get their flight.

"Golf is not very popular in Nigeria. It is only played by the elite so it cannot be that they entered the competition just to get into Britain."