MEL’S A BIG FAN OF BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Mel Reid has spent the week commentating on the men for BBC Radio 5 Live. But earlier this year, she was competing against them.
Reid played in the European Tour’s Golf Sixes in May alongside fellow Solheim Cup player, Carlota Ciganda, where she was thrilled to showcase the best of women’s golf.
The topic has come to light again as over in America, Brittany Lincicome took part in the Barbasol Championship, the minor event on the PGA Tour running concurrently with Carnoustie.
Unfortunately, Lincicome shot 78-71 to miss the cut in Kentucky, but her English friend is a big advocate of more exposure for the female game.
“I was talking to her about it last week and she was really nervous,” says Reid.
“The tournament is organised by one of her sponsors, so it fitted quite nicely. It was a good opportunity for her and it gets the LPGA on the map a little bit.
“I know that’s why Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie did it years ago.
“Who would turn this down? If they asked me to play in a PGA Tour event, I’d take it with both arms open.
“Playing in the Golf Sixes was awesome. The fact that both girls’ teams got through to the quarter-finals shows we are good.
“We beat some of the best guys in the world on a level playing field.
“Everyone has had an opinion about us playing off different tees, but we didn’t that week.
“It was nice to have a tournament where guys and girls were competing at the same thing. They should do that at the Olympics – and I think eventually they will.”