A millionaire inventor has created a revolutionary golf tee after being inspired by a visit to the dentist.

Dr William Johnson developed his two-pronged device, called the Willit, after seeing a poster detailing how a tooth with two roots is held in the gums.

Traditional tees have only one prong

The Willit has already been adopted by the sport's governing bodies amid claims its extra-strong grip in the ground also aids a golfer's swing.

And it is officially launched into the sport on Wednesday at the Wales Open at Celtic Manor Resort near Newport, south Wales.

The Wentwood course is undergoing a �12m revamp to prepare it for the Ryder Cup in 2010, a win pioneered by Wales's only billionaire, Sir Terry Matthews.

Dr Johnson's Willit is slightly longer than the traditional tee and its twin-prong design holds it firmly in the ground when the ball is struck - the most critical moment in a golf swing.

With this extra grip ensuring the Willit remains in place, its inventor believes it will help improve a golfer's action by giving them something to focus on as they hit the ball.

The Willit is launched at The Celtic Manor

Dr Johnson said: "The unique design should also help to lengthen a golfer's drive as the construction of the Willit means that a smaller proportion of the ball is in contact with the tee, thereby reducing random spin."

He added the Willit is multi-functional, acting as a tee, a pitch mark repairer and a ball marker holder.

The Guernsey-based ideas man, who is ranked 60th in the Sunday Times Rich List, can already lay claim to the title of being one of Britain's most prolific inventors.

His diverse range of inventions include optically-enhanced screens, 'E-larm', the first hack-proof computer software, mathematically-based security systems and skin cancer predictors.

A spokeswoman for his publicity campaign said: "Dr Johnson hopes that the phrase "Watch the Willit" will become synonymous with the good golfing practice of keeping the head down."

A smaller proportion of the ball is in contact with the tee, reducing random spin

Dr William Johnson

His invention has already been approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the body that governs golf worldwide.

The launch coincides with the Wales Open which begins with a pro-am tournament on Wednesday morning, with 38 teams taking part, before the main competition on Thursday.

The tournament has a total prize fund of �1.1m, and the organisers are hoping to beat the previous record of 43,000 spectators at the event this weekend.

The Celtic Manor has almost single-handedly put Wales on the golfing map since Sir Terry led the campaign to land the 2010 Ryder Cup tournament.