Van de Velde unhappy Open is open to women
Anybody who thinks Jean van de Velde is joking about wanting to play in the Women’s British Open should have been at Valderrama when he spoke yesterday - he meant every word he said.
Now that females are allowed to enter the British Open Championship, the Frenchman wants to have the chance to compete against Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie at Royal Birkdale next July.
Van de Velde, famous for losing the 1999 British Open from three ahead with one to play, intends contacting the Ladies’ Golf Union for an application form.
“It’s a farce,” said van de Velde. “My whole point is where do we draw the line? If we accept that women can enter our tournaments then it applies that men can play with women.
“I am definitely going to approach them to get an application and if they let me play in the qualifying event then I will. I’ll even wear a kilt and shave my legs.
“I just don’t understand it and if my application is not accepted I will definitely get advice and see how far it will go.
“I am making a point. I’m not trying to take a sexist stance. I think there are much more important matters. I think our governing body should concentrate on the long putter, checking clubs. Things like that, not this.”
Van de Velde is unlikely to get anywhere with his bid, so may have to test the legal waters if he really intends to pursue it.
The LGU has a “gender policy” stating: “It shall be a condition of any competition organised by the Ladies’ Golf Union that players must be of the female gender.”
There is also the clause: “If, in the opinion of the committee, there is uncertainty as to a player’s gender either prior to, or once a competition has commenced, then, in order to ensure fair competition, a member of the committee may ask a player to provide proof of gender in confidence to a medical expert.”
Van de Velde added: “It cannot work only one way. Originally the (British) Open was not called the Men’s Open because I don’t think anybody thought this would happen.
“Maybe they should have thought of it 150 years ago, but the guys who won it three, four, five times (back then) are probably spinning in their graves.
“I almost won the (British) Open, so playing 30 yards forward I think I will have a good chance. I know we have an unfair advantage, but if so let them play with themselves and us with ourselves.
“Why don’t we have the 100 metres with men and women together? Or a woman fighting Mike Tyson?
“How silly can you be and what are we trying to do? That we accept women everywhere? Let’s not divert ourselves. I don’t hear any woman saying they can win the (British) Open, so why would you want to enter a tournament you don’t feel you can win?”
Van de Velde’s comments are aimed at the Royal and Ancient Club more than they are at Wie or any other woman.
He simply does not agree with the change of rule announced earlier this month for next year’s British Open, when any female finishing in the top five of any of their majors is allowed to enter a qualifying event for Hoylake.
