Women’s professional golf will make a welcome return to Britain for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown with the staging of the Women’s Open at Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club in Hampshire, a one-day tournament planned for June 18.
Stars of the British women’s game, including 2018 Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall are expected to take part behind closed doors in an event that was the brainchild of Ladies European Tour professional Liz Young and Brokenhurst Manor head professional Jason MacNiven.
Young says the aims of the competition are pretty simple: “It is to find a way to put on a tournament for women’s professionals, so that we can be competitive again and have the chance to earn a little money in these uncertain times and to boost the profile of the women’s game.”
She is acutely aware of the situation facing women’s team sports such as football, rugby and cricket, which have had their domestic seasons cancelled. “It is so important that women’s sport is visible,” said Young. “There was controversy a few weeks ago over the first golf in the US being men’s only. Because golf is a sport that can be played safely now it is key that the women get exposure, too.”
Although, not an officially sanctioned LET event, the Tour has supported Young and MacNiven in getting the message out to its members, but it is also open to any female professional in the UK. Other well-known players signed up include Meghan MacLaren, Annabel Dimmock, Amy Boulden and Gabriella Cowley.
Young stressed that the event will adhere to government guidelines and that caddies must be from the same household as the player, but that they are keen that as many female professionals get involved as possible. “The great thing about this event is that you have a major winner like Georgia and then girls who have won multiple times on the LET, but anybody could win.”
The event is yet to attract a sponsor and players are pitching in a £125 entry fee to contribute to the prize pot.
With the dearth of live sporting action on television Young is making a plea to broadcasters to show the event. “I know people would love to watch live sport because there is so little. I would say to the likes of BBC and Sky that this a professional event with some big names, it is going to be good to watch,” she said. “It would also be an opportunity for people who are new to women’s golf to see just how good our game is. That is why it would be amazing if we could get this on television.”
The event would be a chance for the LET and LPGA members to get a chance to dust off the cobwebs before a return of the major tours. It is understood that organisers are still hopeful that the AIG Women’s British Open will go ahead at Royal Troon on August 20-23. Organisers are also optimistic that the other European women’s major, the Evian Championship, which has already been rescheduled to tee off on August 6 on its usual course at the Evian Resort on the French side of Lake Geneva, will proceeed.
If you are a female golf professional and would like to enter the Women’s Open at Brokenhurst Manor contact Liz Young via Twitter @lizyounggolf