Dual-gender Australian Open faces challenges

MELBOURNE - Australian Open winners Ryggs Johnston and Shin Ji-yai hoisted their men and women's trophies alongside each other in front of healthy crowds at Melbourne's Kingston Heath on Dec 1, but the future of the dual-gender event remains up in the air.

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The mixed format, introduced in 2022 to reboot the local tour after it was shut down by Covid-19, has long had its detractors who say it diminishes the standing of both the men and women's national Opens, which were previously stand-alone events.

The criticism continued in Melbourne's sandbelt last week, with men's headliner Cameron Smith accusing officials of watering down the usually hard and fast sandbelt course despite rainy weather that contributed to soft and slow conditions.

Australian Major winner Hannah Green said the course set-up had "generous" pin placements to make sure all players could get their rounds.

"I do think if the men played at this course, the pins would be much more tucked," she told reporters.