Hamilton tees off in pro-am golf tournament

(GMM) Lewis Hamilton may be unlikely to defend his drivers' title this year, but he is taking the opportunity to indulge a new passion — golf.

The McLaren driver took a shining new set of clubs with him to the Monaco grand prix, admitting he is "not very good yet but I love the game".

After finishing twelfth on Sunday, he then cancelled his flight from the Principality on Sunday night when he discovered that former double world champion and McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen was planning a round of nine on Monday.

It then emerged that the Briton, 24, was due to take part in his first pro-am tournament this week, playing alongside world's no. 5 Henrik Stenson, at the London Golf Club in north Kent.

The golf course lies just across the M20 from the Brands Hatch racing circuit.

The pro-am, on Wednesday, is a precursor to the start of the European Open on Thursday morning.