Jean Van de Velde wants to play golf with the ladies
 

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/new...v=ap&type=lgns

Frenchman wants to play Women's British Open

October 27, 2005
SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) -- 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.

I'm kind of glad someone stepped up and did this. I'm sure he'll just get flamed for it, But I like the point he's trying to make.

C'mon, you're just interested in the kilt and the part about him shaving his legs.

idiot

Knew this was going to happen sometime.

I wonder when Shaquille ONeal is gonna try and play high school basketball because the NBA lets high schoolers play for them?

Here's my propsal...

The men's tour can rightfully be considered the "elite" level... and as such, you can/should open it up to anyone who can compete... not just men.

Rebrand the whole darn thing as the "Major's Tour" or something like that. That's how I'd propose handling it.

Then as part of this, I would then want to consider marrying the women's tour and the Nike Tour into a "developmental" tour. Have the Nike be only men, have the LPGA be only women.

But keep the PGA as both men and women.

I think its necessary at the smaller scale tours, that they have some brand identy, since they don't have the big names playing for the big money from the big sponsors.

Keep them as M/F only and make the PGA as co-ed.

If there was money in it, he probably would.

That is a good idea. Either that, or just let what is going on happen and make the player of the opposite sex that is playing in the tournament play nekked.

I wouldn't mind playing around with Nat Gulbis or a few other LPGA gals.


I knew a guy that used to caddy on the LPGA Tour and he said those gals were wearing him out........It kinda sounded like he was complaining but I didn't really get that.

PhilFree:arrow:

Maybe he should be more worried about not shooting 7 over par.

And they're not going to let you go from the lady's tees, Jean. Frog.

I bet he's doing it for the same reason why I once took a tennis class at KU, to pick up chicks!

Don't think he could qualify for the Arby's Invitational....

Next thing you know, DenverChief will try to become a Hooters Waitress.

i'm glad he's doing it too...


maybe when the men start spanking dat ass in the LPGA tour and end up costing about 1/3 of the women in the LPGA their jobs ... the women will stop trying to have their cake and eat it too.