Golf: 47 Nigerians miss the cut for British Open

The Great Missing Nigerians Mystery is puzzling organisers of the British Open golf championship.

Forty-seven of 48 Nigerians who "entered" the Open have failed to appear at qualifying rounds.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club said the large number of entries from Nigeria, which is not noted for its golfers, was strange. But the Daily Telegraph reported that the club could not explain it.

To enter Britain, the Nigerians would have had to apply for a six-month visa.

The Home Office is not saying if they had been granted visas, nor whether they had all flown to Britain.

This year's Open, at Muirfield, has drawn 2200 applications from golfers not already entitled to play. Each must pay a £100 ($318) fee.

The Home Office said it could not take action until the visas expired. "Not turning up at a specific address is not an offence."