Paul Simpson was in relaxed mood as he prepared to tee off in Thursday’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The West Berks pro, who lives in Witney, begins his campaign at 10.30am alongside Simon Wakefield and Miles Tunnicliff, who briefly held the course record during last year’s championship.

Simpson, who earned his place at Wentworth by winning the English PGA Championship at Moortown last summer, said: “I’m going in with no form.

“I am not expecting too much, which may be a good thing.”

Simpson auctioned the chance to be his caddy on eBay, with half the money going to the special baby care unit at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

James McIntyre, from Thame, was the top bidder and carried Simpson’s bag in practice on Monday.

But he felt he lacked the experience for the role, so Chipping Norton member Mark Stanton, who came second in the auction, has taken over.

Simpson has been a regular competitor in the European Tour’s flagship event, with his best finish of 80th coming in 2000.

“I’ve played the course quite a few times, so I know it quite well,” said Simpson.

Even if Simpson does not make the cut, Stanton will be able to watch the weekend’s action for free, but theirs will be a limited partnership.

“It’s a one-tournament contract,” Simpson joked.

Frilford Heath’s Jane Binning reached the last 16 of the English Women’s Amateur Championship at Lindrick, Yorkshire.

Binning qualified in joint tenth place after rounds of 82 and 78, with fellow Oxon player Tilly Holder also progressing after carding 83 and 79.

Holder lost in the first round, but Binning progressed with a 4 & 3 victory over Kimberley Bradbury (Cavendish).

However, Binning then lost 2 & 1 to Charlotte Wild (Mere).

John Evans bagged the tenth hole-in-one of his career after acing the par-three eighth in wet and windy conditions at Chipping Norton.

Evans, who has been Chippy champion ten times, used a three-iron on the 190-yard hole during Chippy’s Queen Mother Cup.

Chippy press officer Marius Harte said: “It was an expensive day for John as the field of 94 competitors celebrated the occasion.”