Former men’s world No.1 Justin Rose is to sponsor a new seven-tournament Ladies Series for British women’s professionals in England, starting at Brokenhurst Manor in Hampshire on June 18.
The ‘Rose Ladies Series’ will consist of seven one-day tournaments starting on June 18. Rose and his wife, Kate, are donating £35,000 into the series as prize money, while the courses are not charging a host fee.
After the one-day tournament at Brokenhurst Manor, the series will move to Moor Park GC (June 25), Buckinghamshire Golf Club (July 2), Royal St George’s (July 9), JCB Golf & Country Club (July 16), and Bearwood Lakes (July 23). The venue for the final event on July 30 has yet to be announced.
“Kate and I are excited to host the Rose Ladies Series over multiple great courses this summer in England,” Rose announced on Twitter.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Rose said he felt it was unfair that male professional golfers get the opportunity to play at this week’s PGA Tour event at Colonial while his female counterparts would have to wait an extra two months.
“I am keenly aware that I now have the opportunity to go back to work and compete on the PGA Tour, but this is not the same for the ladies and some junior tours as well,” said Rose. “The LET has been struggling financially over the past few years, with the LPGA coming to the tour’s rescue last fall with a joint venture to hopefully revitalise women’s golf in Europe.
He added: “I am sad that the Ladies’ European Tour has been suffering so badly. To me this seems somewhat unfair my wife Kate and I felt there was an opportunity to step up and help. The prize money is modest because it is me throwing in some money and then the ladies are paying an entry fee and being able to play for a pot. We wanted to give them the opportunity to play and to be ready for when the opportunities arise later in the summer.”
The Ladies European Tour is set to return to action at the Evian Championship in France on August 6-9, although details of the rest of the summer schedule has yet to be announced.