South African golfer, James Kingston happily paid £650 for a commemorative Congressional flag on the assurance it will be signed by U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy.

Kingston, a former German Masters winner, was among many of this week’s Barclay’s Scottish Open competitors who attended a charity fund raising cricket match on Tuesday afternoon in Inverness.

Items laid out for auction (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

The European Tour caddies went down by two wickets to the Helensburgh Cricket Team who had travelled up to the northern Scottish city for the now annual match.

However the big winners were a number of charities that will benefit from the auction of signed, or the case of the U.S. Open replica flag, unsigned memorabilia up for grabs.

The Congressional flag sold for $US 30 on site in Maryland but Kingston outbid his fellow players and others to win the flag that organisers said they’d get Mcilroy to sign at next week’s British Open.

“Rory’s one of the greatest guys out on the Tour and he’s so popular with everyone that I know he won’t hesitate in signing the flag,” said Kingston.

Recent Volvo China Open winner, Nicolas Colsaerts paid £300 for a cap signed recently by seven-time F1 World Champion, Michael Schmacher and then duly handed it back to re-auctioning.

Other items included: 

A Michael Campbell signed Callaway bag – £160

A cricket bat signed by England Test openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss – £140

A Celtic Manor Ryder Cup yardage book signed by victorious captain, Colin Montgomerie – £150

A European Ryder Cup flag signed by the European Ryder Cup winning team – £260

Two Red Bull F1 team caps – £45 each

A Srixon cap signed by Graeme McDowell – £90

A glove signed by Colin Montgomerie – £35

A rugby ball signed by the England team – £85

An Odssey putter signed by Thomas Bjorn – £60

A Christian Nilsson’s signed Callaway bag – £100