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As welcomes go it was more of a chilly handshake than a warm embrace but the Royal & Ancient yesterday made good on its promise to open up the world's most prestigious tournament to women. From next year Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie can attempt to qualify for the Open.
"The new rules on eligibility conform to two guiding principles: that opening up the championship was based on ability and not on gender and that we kept the field as strong as possible," said Peter Dawson, the R&A's chief executive. "I would be absolutely delighted to see a woman qualify for the 2006 Open."
Whether or not Dawson gets his wish remains open to conjecture, not least because of the scope and stringency of the conditions facing any woman with ambitions to take on the best male players in the world.
Only around two dozen women will actually be eligible to attempt qualification - a select group drawn from the top five finishers, and those who tie for fifth place, at the four women's major championships, including the British Women's Open.
"The new rules on eligibility conform to two guiding principles: that opening up the championship was based on ability and not on gender and that we kept the field as strong as possible," said Peter Dawson, the R&A's chief executive. "I would be absolutely delighted to see a woman qualify for the 2006 Open."
Whether or not Dawson gets his wish remains open to conjecture, not least because of the scope and stringency of the conditions facing any woman with ambitions to take on the best male players in the world.
Only around two dozen women will actually be eligible to attempt qualification - a select group drawn from the top five finishers, and those who tie for fifth place, at the four women's major championships, including the British Women's Open.