Wie the only woman in British Open

Michelle Wie looks like being the only woman with a chance to qualify for this year’s British Open 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 the first stage of qualifying which takes place at courses around the country on July 5, the deadline for which is in just over one month’s time.

And with entry into regional qualifying restricted to the top-five finishers in three of this year’s major championships and last year’s Weetabix Women’s British Open, it appears highly unlikely any women will even attempt to qualify.

Hawaiian 16-year-old Wie comes into a special category again this year because of her invitation to July’s John Deere Classic in Illinois.

The US Tour event carries with it a place into the British Open for the leading player not already exempt.

Wie has already played in several men’s events, incredibly missing the cut by just one shot at the Sony Open in January 2004 when she was only 14.

Prize money for this year’s championship has yet to be officially announced, but Martin Kippax, chairman of the R&A’s championship committee, revealed that last place in the 156-strong field would be worth £2,100 (€3,000) – exactly the same amount won by champion Roberto de Vicenzo the last time the British Open was staged at Hoylake in 1967.

The course has been lengthened by just 122 yards since it staged the Amateur Championship in 2000, with one hole even being reduced by 22 yards.

Of more significance is the renumbering of holes so that the present 17th will be the first, and the par-five 16th the new 18th.

“We have slightly rearranged the way the holes are played to set competitors a more challenging final hole,” said Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A.

“The 18th, measuring 560 yards, will present a birdie opportunity, but as a left to right dog-leg with out of bounds ever present on the right, will also be a hole for potential disaster.

“Before knowing that the Open would be returning there, Royal Liverpool had foresight in exercising a strategic review of the entire course aimed at improving the flow from green to tee while also tightening up tee shots, bunkering and green surrounds. The changes to Hoylake have worked very well.”

The changes are as follows:

Hole 1 – 454 yards (+33) New green moved away from road to relocate further back.

Hole 2 – 436 yards (+19) New back tee constructed after previous green relocated.

Hole 4 – 372 yards (-22) Green moved back and championship tee slightly shortened.

Hole 6 – 202 yards (+8) Tee adjusted for more challenging angle to green.

Hole 12 – 448 yards (+35) New championship tee.