R&A’s Open concern over women

OPEN officials yesterday insisted it would be “a shame” if no women attempted to qualify for this year’s championship at Hoylake.

The Royal and Ancient Club, a male-only club which has run the championship at male-only courses since it began at Prestwick in 1860, agreed last year to allow women to play if they qualified.

However, so far no entries have been received for regional qualifying which takes place at courses around Britain on July 5.