Justin Rose follows lead set by 2020protour in helping women’s golf blossom

Meghan MacLaren, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, believes the work being done by the Yorkshire-based 2020protour and former US Open champion Justin Rose is accelerating the conversation.

MacLaren played in the 2020protour event at Cleckheaton on Monday, firing a one-over-par round of 71 to finish in a tie for 39th out of a 113-strong field that included 12 women.

That number equates to a little under 11 per cent, with nationwide figures for the amount of women playing golf standing at 14 per cent.

Prior to this year, female professionals like MacLaren did not have as many opportunities to play tournament golf, and with the Ladies European Tour not back until August following the coronavirus pandemic, that was set to continue.

However, hot on the heels of the 2020protour’s push for equality, Olympic champion Rose has just announced that he and his wife Kate are to sponsor a seven-event series of women’s golf tournaments for British professionals starting on June 18.

“To be honest, I still can’t get my head around it,” said MacLaren. “We’ve been crying out for so long for some recognition or support from male tour pros and it just never comes. So to have ally of Justin’s stature, who’s not just talking but he’s actually making something happen for us, has made a lot of girls, including myself, unbelievably grateful.

“And, hopefully, this gives us an opportunity to showcase what we can do. I can talk all I want but it’s not going to get as much attention as Justin Rose doing it.”

Monday’s event at Cleckheaton was the first tournament opportunity for 26-year-old MacLaren and a number of male and female professionals and amateurs.

The Hopkins Butchers Classic title was shared by Yorkshire golfers Nick Poppleton, of Wath, and David Hague, of Malton, who posted rounds of 64, but the fact equality in golf was at the forefront of the narrative was the main talking point.

For that, 2020protour founders Chris Hanson and Adam Walker were lavished with praise, with MacLaren leading the tributes.

“I really wanted to support this tour because I think what they’re is doing is brilliant,” said MacLaren, who travelled up from Northamptonshire for the day.

“I’ve talked quite a bit about women in golf and to try and get more opportunities for us, so what these guys have done with this tour is absolutely perfect.

“We’ve got equal opportunity and they’re factoring in the distance argument, and the more normal that becomes, the better.”

Was she daunted stood on the tee knowing she was competing against male golfers who can hit the ball further.

“Not really,” said MacLaren, who with her fellow women play the 2020protour courses 11 per cent shorter to negate the power factor. “Just because there’s guys instead of girls it shouldn’t change anything. It’s nice to have a slightly different challenge and see the game played differently.

“It’s a chance to say we’re here and we’re capable of competing. The more eyes we can open to that, the better.”

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