Mercedes-Benz 4x4 Golf Drive to The Open: Day 4

The end of a thrilling week in St Andrews saw victory not just for Zach Johnson, but also GM's Rob Smith and reader Chris Walker thanks to Mercedes-Benz

Open Sunday was spent at the Old Course following all the action from various vantage points, as well as in the very smart Mercedes’ hospitality suite where there were visits from people such as Sir Jackie Stewart, former rugby star Gavin Hastings, and IMG’s global head of golf, Guy Kinnings.

Check out our VIDEO review of this year's incredible St Andrews Open...

The view from the balcony beside the 16th fairway gave everyone the chance to see most of the biggest names in golf up close and personal, and although it was a long day full of action, it flew past way too quickly.

For the five teams competing in the Mercedes-Benz 4x4 Golf Drive To The Open, it was an early start on Monday morning for the damp but full-of-anticipation drive to their final golfing destination, the glorious Gleneagles.

The resort’s three championship layouts are all very highly rated, with the King’s Course generally regarded as the best, featuring highly in Golf Monthly's Top 100.

With the Team UK pair looking to make up a six-point deficit over Team Spain and the in-form Team Germany, there was all to play for.

And as the golfers teed off, the cloud soon lifted and they were all lucky enough to enjoy a wonderful morning over the beautiful James Braid design without any further rain.

The 9th hole on the King’s Course is a lovely short par 4 played down a hill and over a narrow valley to a tricky green.

Chris hit a great approach which was unlucky to run through the green and onto the fringe, but from there he chipped in for a birdie three, adding another birdie at the 14th with an excellent up-and-down from a greenside bunker.

With Rob adding his own birdie at the 12th, it allowed Team UK to compile a reasonable score of 53 points in testing conditions where any visit to the wet rough meant a sideways chip back to the fairway at best.

Minutes before the rain returned, Rob and Chris finished their round which was played in great spirit with plenty of laughs with Tim Starke, editor in chief at Golf.de, and his competition winner, Simon.

As the teams sat down to a final delicious lunch together in the vast complex of the Gleneagles clubhouse, their excellent hosts worked on the scores before revealing that in the handicap team event for the week, Team UK/Golf Monthly were the winners with a total of 181 points.

In the scratch prize, Team Germany emerged as winners, and the prize for each was a presentation case containing three golf balls signed by the Mercedes-Benz brand ambassadors, Martin Kaymer, Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem, a superb memento from a wonderful week courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.

Sadly, at the end of five amazing days spent enjoying the golfing trip of a lifetime, it was time for Team UK to pack their bags and make their way back to Edinburgh in the fabulous Mercedes 450 GLE Coupe before the transfer home; happily, with souvenirs and memories that will last them a lifetime.