During the first week of April, golf history will be made. No, we’re not talking about the Masters (that’s the second week of April). Beginning on April 4, men and women will compete on the same course on the same day for a single individual prize for the first time ever at the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla.
A 123-player field consisting of 40 players from the Staysure Tour (the European Tour equivalent of the PGA Tour Champions), European Challenge Tour (the European Tour equivalent of the Web.com Tour) and the Ladies European Tour, plus three amateurs, will face off in mixed groups in a 54-hole stroke-play battle at Ayla Golf Club, located in Aqaba, Jordan.
The players will play from three tee positions selected each day by representatives from each of the three respective tours. Pin positions have also been thoughtfully analyzed to account for the the variances in the three Tour’s spin rates, with the goal being that every hole location will be equally approachable for every player in the field — as long as he or she is coming at it from the right place.
“Finding the correct balance with course set up for the Jordan Mixed Open is the collective priority for all three tours,” said tournament director Simon Higginbottom. “Our aim is that if a fairway bunker or similar obstacle is in play for a Ladies European Tour player, it will also be in play for the Staysure and Challenge Tour players.”
Notable commitments to the Jordan Mixed Open include Meghan MacLaren, a recent winner on the Ladies European Tour, Solheim Cup players Emily Pedersen and Trish Johnson, multiple-time European Tour winner Marcel Siem, and three-time major champion Nick Price.
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