UNLIKE high profile examples in America of women competing in men's events by invitation – Michelle Wie, Annika Sorenstam and so forth – perhaps the most significant aspect of Heather MacRae's participation in the Scottish PGA championship at Gleneagles this week is that she qualified for the Tartan Tour's flagship event on merit.
MacRae, 25, an assistant professional at Gullane, earned her spot at the PGA Centenary thanks to a two over par round of 75, the same mark as Gordon Sherry, in qualifying at Downfield in Dundee. It was good enough to finish 11th and secure one of the
Perthsire berths.
The first woman since 1933 to tee up in the Scottish PGA – Meg Farquhar was the last Scot to take on her male counterparts 76 years past at Moray golf club – MacRae has no interest in the publicity generated by the battle of the sexes and was unimpressed by the gimmickry surrounding Wie's dalliance with the men's game.
She says she's not trying to make a similar statement, would never dream of trying to qualify for the Open championship, but simply wants an opportunity to compete at a time when tournaments for female professionals in Scotland are scarcer than Scots in the world's top 100. "I don't see it as playing in a men's event," she said. "I see it as playing in a PGA event. I'm a PGA professional."
A former winner of the British Women's Amateur at Nairn in 2005, it would surely have benefited MacRae if she was competing with men on a fast links where distance is less of an issue than it is on a substantial parkland course such as Gleneagles
Even with the benefit of playing from a forward tee, however, MacRae is bound to be seriously disadvantaged over the PGA Centenary. She drives the ball around 250 yards, but will need more club for her second shot than most of her rivals.
Whatever score she returns, though, MacRae will add spice to a tournament with a history dating back to 1908. As Gordon Dewar, secretary of the Scottish region of the PGA, remarked: "It's fantastic we will have Heather at our national championship. It's something different and adds a new dimension to the event."
• European Tour player Paul Lawrie had to settle for a share of third place as he attempted to repeat last year's win in the £5,500 Kemnay Golf Club pro-am. Lawrie finished on four-under-par 67 (32-35), two shots behind the winner, Chris Kelly (Cawder), who had a flawless card of 65 (33-32).
Kelly made five birdies to finish one shot ahead of the in-form David Orr (East Renfrewshire).
