[GreatBriton]

French golfer Jean Van de Velde will attempt to enter next year's Women's British Open because he is upset women may qualify for the 2006 British Open.

"I'll even wear a kilt and shave my legs," said Van de Velde, who six years ago botched a chance for a British Open title in one of the great collapses in a major.

Frenchman Wants to Play Women's Open


French golfer Jean Van de Velde will attempt to enter next year's Women's British Open because he is upset women may qualify for the 2006 British Open.

"I'll even wear a kilt and shave my legs," said Van de Velde, who six years ago botched a chance for a British Open title in one of the great collapses in a major.

Recent policy set by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club will allow women to qualify for next year's British Open.

"My whole point is where do we draw the line?" Van de Velde asked after shooting a 7-over-par 78 Thursday in the first round of the Volvo Masters. "If we accept that women can enter our tournaments, then it applies that men can play with women."

The 39-year-old Frenchman said he would get an application and attempt to qualify. Next year's Women's British Open is Aug. 3-6 at Royal Lytham.

The event is run by the Ladies' Golf Union, which established a gender policy this year that says: "It shall be a condition of any competition organized by the Ladies' Golf Union that players must be of the female gender."

Andy Salmon, chief executive officer of the LGU, said Thursday there was no plan to change the rule.

The LGU this season established a formal gender policy sanctioning players who had sex-change operations to become females. The best known example was Danish-born Australian Mianne Bagger, who played some LGU events in 2005.

"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," Van de Velde said. "I am making a point. I'm not trying to take a sexist stance."

"I think there are much more important matters," he added. "I think our governing body should concentrate on the long putter, checking clubs. Things like that, not this."

Former Ryder Cup player Barry Lane suggested a change in the rules could end women's golf.

"Do they want 100 men trying to qualify?" he asked. "If they do there won't be any spots left for them."

At the 1999 British Open, Van de Velde led by three strokes going to the 72nd hole, then wound up losing the tournament in a playoff.
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Could it be that the only reason he wants to play in the Women's Open is because he can't handle playing against the men?

[GunRunner]

Hell, I'd wear a kilt too..... but, I AM NOT, SHAVING MY LEGS!!!

What's he afraid of, being beaten by a woman on the back 9??

[Blue_Nose]

Quote:

Could it be that the only reason he wants to play in the Women's Open is because he can't handle playing against the men?

See, yours is exactly the mindset which he's confronting: that men's and women's divisions aren't based on gender, but on skill. Sure, the division is made often times because of physical advantages which men have. However, allowing women to enter the men's competition reduces it to a two tier system in which men should have every right to enter the womens' competition, which sounds ridiculous to most people.

It's a blatant stereotype, and unless they want to get rid of gender based divisions entirely (which wouldn't be much fun for the majority of women in professional sports), I suggest that women should stay in the their own leagues.

[Ripcat]

I'm not a huge golf fan but I see it as more of a game than a sport. If the women are teeing off from the same spot I don't see why it can't be co-ed.

55 year old men compete against 25 year old men so I don't see where physical stature etc. comes into play in golf. The best skill, accuracy, technique, and consistancy win tournaments not strength, stamina or speed.

Let the women compete in pro golf.

Let the Frenchman play women's tennis and get his ass whipped.

[camerontech]

Ripcat wrote:

I'm not a huge golf fan but I see it as more of a game than a sport. If the women are teeing off from the same spot I don't see why it can't be co-ed.

55 year old men compete against 25 year old men so I don't see where physical stature etc. comes into play in golf. The best skill, accuracy, technique, and consistancy win tournaments not strength, stamina or speed.

Let the women compete in pro golf.

Let the Frenchman play women's tennis and get his ass whipped.

physical stature does come into play, when Annika Sorenstam was playing with the men every drive was 20 yards shorter than the men's, she had to make it up with her good short game.