Davies first to challenge Europe's male élite

Soon the shock will be a woman playing in a women's event. The latest appearance by a woman in a men's tournament will be by Laura Davies at the ANZ Championship at the Horizons resort near Sydney in two weeks' time. It will be the first time a woman has played on the European Tour, although Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie, earlier this month, have both played on the US Tour.

Davies, who was the world No 1 for three years in the mid-Nineties, remains one of the most popular players on the women's circuit. The 40-year-old, who has secured the invitation as the ANZ Ladies Masters champion, played in an exhibition event seven years ago when each round was played in a different Asian country. She finished 39 strokes behind the winner, Vijay Singh.

Last year, following Sorenstam's appearance at the Colonial, Davies played in the Korean Open on the Asian PGA Tour but missed the cut. The ANZ event has a modified Stableford format - from eight points for an albatross to minus three for a double bogey or worse - and was won last year by Paul Casey.

"This is a new challenge for me and something I will enjoy," Davies said. "The format should mean it is a lot of fun and I know the course well." Last year, in a women's event at the same venue, Davies lost in a play-off.

The issue of women playing in men's tournaments is something that has been officially frowned upon by the European Tour chief executive, Ken Schofield, taking a lead from the Royal and Ancient who have written in a "male only" clause to the regulations for the Open Championship. But the ANZ is a co-sanctioned tournament, and not solely administered by the European Tour.

Wie missed the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii but only by one stroke in a performance that was remarkable for a 14-year-old schoolgirl. She finished ahead of plenty of star names, including that of Adam Scott. The young Australian, who has won both in Europe and the United States, has not been allowed to forget the fact by friends and competitors.

"It's not really great to be beaten by a 14-year-old girl who is still in high school when you are out doing it for a living," Scott admitted. "She is obviously a fantastic talent but everyone has been giving me a hard time. Most of it has been unrepeatable."

Scott tried to disguise himself on the practice range at the Johnnie Walker Classic, which began here last night, by hitting shots left-handed. Colin Montgomerie said he had no objection to women playing in men's events but wondered "where it is all heading".

None the less, the former European No 1 is not averse to trying something new and will compete on a leg of the Volvo Ocean Race with fellow countrywoman Emma Richards in 2006. "It is a fantastic opportunity and should be a wonderful experience," the Scot said.

He is under no illusion that it will be a cruise on the ocean waves. "I wouldn't expect otherwise," he said. "I'll have to train and be quite accomplished. There won't be room for passengers and I wouldn't want to be one. I want to be a help not a burden. It is a race after all."

First, though, there is the little matter of improving his performances on the golf course after falling to 44th in the world. "I can't dip any further," Monty said. "I don't want to fall out of the top 50. That's important to me. I still think I am capable of getting back into the top 10 but I've got to get back to winning. I feel under a bit more pressure than normal. It is Ryder Cup year and there is no getting away from that fact. I need to get points and I need to get confidence in myself."