Women no show would disappoint R&A
Open officials today insisted it would be “a shame” if no women attempted to qualify for this year’s championship at Hoylake.
The Royal and Ancient Club, a male-only club which has run the championship at male-only courses since it began at Prestwick in 1860, agreed last year to allow women to play if they qualified.
However, so far no entries have been received for regional qualifying which takes place at courses around the country on July 5.
And with the HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship in America starting on July 6, it appears highly unlikely any women will even attempt to qualify.
Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, said: “We did not open it up to women hoping they would not enter, we did the reverse.
“Having done that it would be something of a shame if they did not take advantage of the opportunity. I personally hope that we will.
“That said, it’s never been our intention in any way to disrupt the women’s tours and their schedules. But the option is available to the women players.”
Entry into regional qualifying is limited to the top-five finishers in three of this year’s majors and last year’s Weetabix Women’s British Open.
And when told some of those players were unaware they were eligible to enter qualifying, Dawson added: “I’m surprised to hear that given the amount of publicity the subject has had on both sides of the Atlantic, but we can write to them individually and tell them.”
Michelle Wie could yet qualify by virtue of playing in the John Deere Classic on the US Tour from July 13-16, but the 16-year-old would have to finish as the leading player, not already exempt, and in the top 10 to make it.
Wie has already played in several men’s events, incredibly missing the cut by just one shot at the Sony Open in January 2004 when she was only 14.
Prize money for this year’s championship has yet to be officially announced, but Martin Kippax, chairman of the R&A’s championship committee, revealed last place in the 156-strong field would be worth £2,100 (€3,028) – exactly the same amount won by Roberto de Vicenzo the last time the Open was staged at Hoylake in 1967.
The course will measure 7,258 yards but has been lengthened by just 263 yards since 1967, with one hole even being reduced by 22 yards.
But Kippax feels the players will not find it an easy proposition.
He added: “There is nothing we will do to trick this course up. It is like any other links course. Regardless of length it depends upon the weather conditions.
“If we get a warm, wet spring and some real growth in the rough and if the wind blows it will provide a very stern test.
“Nobody has made a monkey of any of the Open championship courses and certainly Hoylake is no exception.”
A number of holes have been renumbered so that the present 17th will be the first, and the par-five 16th the new 18th.
“We have slightly rearranged the way the holes are played to set competitors a more challenging final hole,” added Dawson, who also revealed no courses were being considered for addition to the Open rota.
“The 18th, measuring 560 yards, will present a birdie opportunity, but as a left to right dog-leg with out of bounds ever present on the right, will also be a hole for potential disaster.
“Before knowing that The Open would be returning there, Royal Liverpool had foresight in exercising a strategic review of the entire course aimed at improving the flow from green to tee while also tightening up tee shots, bunkering and green surrounds. The changes to Hoylake have worked very well.”
The major changes are as follows:
Hole 1 – 454 yards (+33) New green moved away from road to relocate further back.
Hole 2 – 436 yards (+19) New back tee constructed after previous green relocated.
Hole 4 – 372 yards (-22) Green moved back and championship tee slightly shortened.
Hole 6 – 202 yards (+8) Tee adjusted for more challenging angle to green.
Hole 12 – 448 yards (+35) New championship tee.
