Golf

No, Jean, it doesn't go both ways

By BOB HARIG
Published November 3, 2005

Jean Van de Velde has said he will put on a kilt and shave his legs if he can gain entry to next year's Women's British Open, a threat that should not be taken lightly. It was six years ago when Van de Velde rolled up his pants and waded into the water to play a shot at the British Open, and it wasn't a pretty sight.

The Frenchman became famous for that scene in the Barry Burn at Carnoustie, where he blew a two-shot lead on the final hole of the British Open by chopping his way to a triple-bogey 7.

Now Van de Velde is really in hot water. Last week, after the recent decision by the Royal & Ancient to allow women to enter the British Open, Van de Velde said he would enter next year's women's event. Never mind that the rules stipulate entrants for the championship must be female.

"If we accept that women can enter our tournaments, then it applies that men can play with women," Van de Velde said.

Ah, when will they learn.

Van de Velde is a likable sort who handled his collapse at Carnoustie with amazing dignity. He is far more famous for losing than Paul Lawrie is for winning.

But here, he has clanked one into the grandstand again.

At various times during the gender debate in golf, the lame retort to women playing in men's events is that men should be able to play in women's events.

And that sort of defeats the purpose of having women's tournaments, doesn't it?

It is scientific fact that physiological differences put women at a disadvantage when competing against men in sports. Hence, the reason for women's sports. If men could compete in women's leagues or games, eventually, there would be few women to play in them.

However, there is the rare instance when a Michelle Wie or Annika Sorenstam comes along. They might have the ability to compete against men. Sorenstam missed the cut at the Colonial two years ago. Wie has missed the cut in three tries on the PGA Tour. But under the right circumstances, it is possible to envision them holding their own against men.

But it won't happen very often.

And the rule that Van de Velde took issue with? He should have read the fine print.

The British Open is allowing women into the tournament, sure. But first, they must finish among the top five at any of the four women's major championships. And that simply gives them the right to go to Britain and attempt regional and final qualifying to try to get into the field.

So, at most, 20 women would be given the opportunity to qualify. How many will even bother? The odds are stacked against. In fact, Van de Velde has a better chance of winning the tournament than a woman does of getting in. And if a woman does happen to make it? She should be applauded.

DOUBLE DUTY: Tom Lehman said last week at the Chrysler Championship that he would consider the dual roles of captain and player at next year's Ryder Cup, should he make the United States team on points.

Bernhard Langer, who captained the European team to victory over the United States last year, was ready to hand over the captaincy if he made the team. Lehman appears intent on doing both.

"That's tough," Langer said. "I could see where he would rather play because it means that he would have a great year as a player and he is a great competitor and still a good player."

FALLING SHORT: Clearwater's Greg Kraft missed his PGA Tour card by just under $30,000 when he finished 26th on the Nationwide Tour money list. The top 21 through last weekend's Nationwide Tour Championship received their PGA Tour cards for 2006. Kraft, who won the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic in June, posted just one top-10 finish the rest of the way and missed five cuts. He tied for 35th at the Tour Championship.

LOCALLY: Though there has been much consternation over the future of the Chrysler Championship beyond 2006, next year's event will be in the same place on the schedule, the week before the Tour Championship, the last weekend in October. The purse will go up to $5.5-million from this year's $5.3-million. ... The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, the area's Champions Tour event at the TPC of Tampa Bay, is looking for volunteers for the Feb. 24-26 event. Call 813 265-4653 or visit www.outbackproam.com

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 01:07:13]