Women could have to wear trousers to obey Saudi rules

Players on the Ladies European Tour have been warned they may have to play in trousers in Saudi Arabia’s first female professional tournament – in order to obey the kingdom’s dress regulations.

The ground-breaking event will be held at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club near Jeddah in March, with a prize of $1 million (£760,000), which will be the second-biggest for a non-major on the circuit.

But while the announcement was made yesterday with much fanfare, it is understood that concern was raised when players were told of the possible restrictions to their usual uniform, which is overwhelmingly skirts or shorts. There are no stringent dress regulations on the tour, or indeed, on any of the women’s tours.

“It did not go down well, but the feeling was that it was a negative that, perhaps, may be worth it for such a high-money tournament on a tour that’s been struggling,” a source told The Daily Telegraph. The European tour has been beset by problems over the past few seasons, with sponsors leaving and the schedule being vastly reduced.

The tournament follows this year’s inaugural European Tour event, the Saudi International, which was hosted at the same venue. Brooks Koepka, the world No1, and fellow major champions Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed,

Shane Lowry, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson have already confirmed their participation for February’s renewal. Rory Mcilroy and Tiger Woods have both turned down appearance fees of up to $4million to play.

It is understood that there will not be any appearance fees paid for the women’s event, only intensifying the belief that the tournament is being staged as a promotional tool in the “sportswashing” of the country. Anthony Joshua’s boxing world title victory over Andy Ruiz Jnr was hosted there last week.

“I’m incredibly excited by this announcement and it is an honour for the tour to be part of history in bringing the first-ever professional women’s golf event to Saudi Arabia,” said Alexandra Armas, the European tour chief executive.