Player ‘not crazy’ about more mixed gender events – but he does have an idea
Should there be more mixed events on tour? Gary Player says he’s “not particularly crazy” about the idea.
But the Grand Slam champion instead suggested men, women, and juniors should join together in team formats in a bid to get younger players into the sport.
Linn Grant’s spectacular win in the Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam-hosted Scandinavian Mixed – the first time a woman has won on the DP World Tour – has led some to speculate whether there could soon be more events included in the tour schedule.
Speaking as an Aramco Team Series ambassador, Player hailed the Ladies European Tour star’s victory and the depth and talent in the women’s game, saying he’d like to see the Saudi body build a ‘world ladies tour’.
But asked whether he’d like to see more mixed events in the wake of the Swede’s nine shot success, he said: “No, I’m not particularly crazy about that. I think they should play together with men. At my tournament at Sun City Golf Club, we had a businessman, a lady pro, a male pro, a mixture of a team and it went off so well.
“I’m a great believer in togetherness. Have a tournament with a man and a lady pro. I think they had one in America a little while ago and it was really exciting.”
He added: “I think to have a tour with a man and a woman together as a partner, and also a junior thrown in there. That’s what we need so young people, particularly young women, can see what golf does around the world.”
“You’ve got to incentivise. You must incentivise young people to play golf because there are so many sports, like cycling for example, that people are going to in a very strong way,” he continued.
- Gary Player was speaking at the Aramco Team Series tournament at Centurion
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
