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.
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- Gary Player was speaking at the Aramco Team Series tournament at Centurion
