In an historic move which women golfers would undoubtedly like to see as a sign of the times, the Curtis Cup is to be staged on the Old Course, St Andrews, in 2008. Various other women's events have been held there over the years, but this marks a first for the biennial match against the US.
Details of the next five stagings of the Curtis Cup were announced by the Ladies' Golf Union at the weekend. They are: 2000 - Ganton GC; 2002 - Fox Chapel GC, Pittsburg; 2004 - Formby GC; 2006 - US venue to be announced; 2008 - Old Course, St Andrews.
As it happens, the Curtis Cup has already been played in Scotland on four occasions since its institution at Wentworth in 1932. Those venues were: Gleneagles, 1936; Muirfield, 1952 and 1984; Western Gailes, 1972.
Despite the absence of proper facilities - the R and A clubhouse has been out of bounds to them - women have had some memorable championships on the Old Course. Among these was the 1965 British Women's Amateur Open in which the great Frenchwoman, Brigitte Varangot, captured the second of her three titles, beating Scotland's Belle Robertson by 4 and 3 in the final.
Meanwhile, Nancy Lopez is being given another chance of winning the only important women's title to have eluded her. The charismatic, 42-year-old American has received a special exemption into the US Women's Open on June 3rd to 6th. It will be her 23rd appearance in the event.
A four-time runner-up for the title, Lopez seemed set for a breakthrough at Pumpkin Ridge, Oregon, two years ago. That was when she trailed the inexperienced leader, Alison Nicholas, by only one stroke at the halfway stage. But the gap was still one stroke at the finish, after Lopez had narrowly missed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a play-off.
Prize money for this year's event has been increased by $250,000 to $1.75 million.
At their recent annual general meeting, the US Golf Association also approved a new play-off format for the US Senior Open. Similar to the British Open, it would be over three or four holes, depending on the layout of the course.
But the US Open and Women's Open will continue to have an 18-hole play-off, followed by sudden-death if needed. It will be recalled that both of these elements were required in 1990 at Medinah, where Hale Irwin captured the US Open for a third time, beating Mike Donald in sudden death.
As it happens, this year's US Women's Open will be at the Old Waverly GC in West Point, Mississippi, where Lopez played an exhibition with Ben Crenshaw and Jerry Pate to mark the official opening. "I like the course," she said. "I'm hoping it's going to be a good week for me."
Danny Yates, a member of the Walker Cup teams of 1989 and 1993, has been named non-playing captain of the US side to defend the trophy at Nairn GC on September 11th and 12th. A 48-year-old native of Atlanta, Georgia, Yates was US Mid-Amateur champion in 1992.
