Justin Rose and his wife Kate are attempting to fill the void left by a decimated tournament schedule in Europe by sponsoring a new series of women’s golf tournaments in the UK.
From June 18th, the Rose Ladies Series will see professionals compete across seven tournaments behind closed doors with Sky Sports on site to produce a broadcast.
This year’s venue for the now postponed men’s Open Championship, Royal St George’s Golf Club, will provide one of the settings while it’s understood that each course will give up its facilities free of charge to the players. Rose is said to be contributing £35,000 into the series as prize money.
“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 to the Telegraph.
“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.”
Justin returns to the fairways of the PGA Tour this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge which is in stark contrast to the members of the LET and LPGA Tours who aren’t set to do the same until August. This disparity struck a chord with the Roses with Justin’s wife Kate, a former European champion gymnast all too aware how detrimental such a long absence from competition could prove for any athlete.
“It is so important for the visibility of ladies’ golf that they can play at good courses and on TV because they need to be out there to both attract sponsors and keep their current sponsors happy as well as allowing more people to get to know who they are,” said Kate.
Other venues that will host the series include Bearwood Lakes Golf Club in Berkshire, JCB Golf and Country Club in Uttoxeter, Moor Park Golf Club and Buckinghamshire Golf Club
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