R&A will consider practice-round shorts for
future Open championships
Ian Poulter, shown at the 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
(
Getty Images
)
ABU DHABI – The R&A has not ruled out allowing players to practice in shorts in future British Opens.
The governing body will come under pressure to get into line with the new European Tour policy of allowing members to wear shorts during practice rounds.
European Tour chairman Thomas Bjorn believes there will come a day when players will be allowed to play tournament rounds in shorts, too, but said it would probably never happen in majors.
“I can see it happening in tournament days one day,” Bjorn said. “I’m not sure it will happen in my time, and it probably will never happen in majors.”
The conditions of competition for this year’s Open at Royal Troon have already been set, so long trousers will be required this year. However, Bjorn could be wrong about future majors if a statement from the R&A is anything to go by.
A spokesman for the R&A said:
“We welcome initiatives that ensure golf remains modern and relevant to today’s generation of players but we do have to maintain a balance with the traditions of the game. While we already have our conditions of entry for the 145th Open at Royal Troon, this is something the Championship Committee will consider in the future. It would certainly be a pleasant dilemma to have if the weather here in mid-July is sufficiently warm for shorts to be desirable.”
There’s nothing to stop the R&A from adopting a shorts policy for next year’s championship at Royal Birkdale.
The governing body will come under pressure to get into line with the new European Tour policy of allowing members to wear shorts during practice rounds.
European Tour chairman Thomas Bjorn believes there will come a day when players will be allowed to play tournament rounds in shorts, too, but said it would probably never happen in majors.
“I can see it happening in tournament days one day,” Bjorn said. “I’m not sure it will happen in my time, and it probably will never happen in majors.”
The conditions of competition for this year’s Open at Royal Troon have already been set, so long trousers will be required this year. However, Bjorn could be wrong about future majors if a statement from the R&A is anything to go by.
A spokesman for the R&A said:
“We welcome initiatives that ensure golf remains modern and relevant to today’s generation of players but we do have to maintain a balance with the traditions of the game. While we already have our conditions of entry for the 145th Open at Royal Troon, this is something the Championship Committee will consider in the future. It would certainly be a pleasant dilemma to have if the weather here in mid-July is sufficiently warm for shorts to be desirable.”
There’s nothing to stop the R&A from adopting a shorts policy for next year’s championship at Royal Birkdale.
Labels: OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, January 23, 2016
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