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Webb delighted to see expansion of innovation
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Webb delighted to see expansion of innovation

Karrie Webb is hopeful that mixed events can become more the norm in golf as she prepares to tee it up alongside the men in the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open.

Karrie Webb

The event in Victoria is one of three events on the 2020 Race to Dubai that will feature mixed fields, as the European Tour and its partners in the women's game look to bring inclusiveness to the fore.

The 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open will see the men's and women's events running concurrently on the same course for equal prize money.

The GolfSixes has a history of featuring both men and women and in the summer the European Tour will break new ground as 78 men and 78 women compete for one trophy and one prize fund at the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika.

"I think it's fantastic," said seven time Major Championship winner Webb. "We don't cross paths ever until this tournament.  

"What I loved is this event's been around for many years but last year with the co-sanctioning, the LPGA and the men's European Tour, for whatever reason it got the attention of the world.

Stacy Lewis

"Now it's the hot topic as far as a concept for a golf tournament. Annika and Henrik are doing one in Sweden. There's a few popping up around the place."

American Stacy Lewis is also teeing it up this week and she believes the men and women can both learn from each other after playing a practice round with three of her male counterparts.

"I like playing with guys because they're so creative and they see different shots and they hit different shots," she said.  

"I think there's five or six holes there where we're playing from the same tees and it's a completely different strategy, what they're doing versus what we're doing but then, at the end, we're making the same score.  

"So I just think it should be fun to watch."

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