Van de Velde will 'shave legs' to play in women's tournament

The Frenchman, who earned the wrong sort of sporting immortality at Carnoustie in 1999 when so comically tossing away the claret jug, is to send a letter to the Ladies' Golfing Union asking for an entry form to next year's Women's British Open at Lytham.

"Why not?" he asked, as jaws all around hit the turf at the Volvo Masters here. "If women can enter our tournaments, then surely it must apply that men can enter theirs. If they let me play in the qualifying event, then I will, but if they don't, I will definitely get advice." His application is unlikely to receive a favourable response, as the LGU's rules state competitors "must be of a female gender".

Nevertheless, the matter is unlikely to rest there as ever since the Royal and Ancient ripped up its own legislation book to allow females to enter its Open there has been growing resentment among the male professionals and Van De Velde has support. Ian Poulter, who shares the lead after the first round here, said: "I'm backing Jean all the way. Let's see how much the women like it."