Korda sisters lead way as women take centre stage
In the history of women’s golf, there has surely never been a week like this; one where a major steeped in tradition stands alongside two new events filled with innovation in one case, and a landmark moment in the other.
A further point is this: why on earth would you put all three events on at the same time, competing for the same space, with each inevitably hurting the other? Only in golf, with its bewildering number of organisations.
Let’s concentrate on the good news, and shed a little light on the three events. Over in California, the majors season kicks off with the ANA Inspiration, where the home challenge led by the gifted and photogenic Korda sisters, nelly and Jessica — daughters of former Australian Open tennis champion Petr — will be joined by the equally talented Brits fronted by Georgia hall and Charley hull.
Looming over all of them, of course, will be the mighty contingent from the Far east, who have done so much to raise the standard of the women’s game.
While that’s taking place on one side of America, on the other will be the first staging of the Augusta national Women’s Amateur Championship, with an international gathering including english trio Annabell Fuller, Alice hewson and Lily May humphreys, and Olivia Mehaffey from northern Ireland.
Following two rounds on a course nearby, the final round on Saturday will take place at Augusta national.
Yes, two days before the men move in and Masters week gets underway, the hallowed grounds will host its first women’s tournament, with legends nancy Lopez, and Annika Sorenstam among the attending dignitaries. Will this prove the forerunner to a women’s Masters? It’s certainly another progressive statement from the club that admitted its first women members only seven years ago.
the third event will be staged half a world away, in Jordan.
the Jordan Mixed Open will feature an equal number of players from the women’s european tour, the men’s Challenge tour — one rung below the european tour — and the Staysure Senior tour competing from different tees for the same prize fund.
Among the competitors will be husband and wife Scott and Kylie henry from Glasgow, who could hardly have imagined when they met and fell in love through golf that one day they’d be competing as professionals in the same event.
Scott plays on the Challenge tour, while Kylie is a two-time winner on the women’s circuit.
A fascinating line-up, therefore, with all eyes on — well, sadly, you’ll have to choose.