By Kent Gray
Given the pioneering format of this week’s Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla, drumming up interest in the 54-hole strokeplay event is undoubtedly easier than for your stock-standard, off the shelf-style professional tournament. For starters, how about Scottish husband and wife Scott and Kylie teeing it up against each other at Ayla Golf Club for a storyline?

That’s just one of the tasty little battles within the battle in Aqaba where Ladies European Tour (LET) stars will compete against the whippersnappers of the European Challenge and several former Ryder Cuppers from the Staysure (senior) Tour on the same course for a single prize fund from Thursday. 

Related: White confident of gender-neutral Ayla Golf Club set-up for Jordan Mixed Open

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll have some sort of wager running throughout the tournament,” Scott told the European Tour. “It will probably involve household chores.”

We’ll keep tabs on the Henry’s battle for domestic bliss but beforehand revert to the push for pre-tournament coverage. Normally a tournament would need to be quite novel for publicity cut-through but the team in Jordan have let the venue and nearby surrounds do all the heavy lifting.

Check out the video of the LET’s Olivia Cowan, Challenge Tour competitor Borja Virto and the former Ryder Cupper Barry Lane taking in the sights of Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and Wadi Rum:

We’re still coming to terms with Lane’s attempt at the floss and look forward to the impending bloopers cut.

Beforehand, enjoy the publicity shots from Petra and Wadi Rum, an increasingly dramatic collection of red sandstone mountains which has served as the backdrop to films such as Lawrence of Arabia and more recently scenes from The Martian and the latest Star Wars blockbuster, Rogue One.

Barry Lane, Olivia Cowan and Borja Virto at Petra.

Olivia Cowan lets one rip into the stunning vastness of Wadi Rum.

Meanwhile, Ayla Golf Club course designer Greg Norman has lent his support to the event.

‘’Any initiative that sets to break down the barriers that prevent people from taking up the sport and that looks to change the narrative regarding women and girls in sport must be encouraged,” said the Great White Shark.

“To construct a format in which women and men compete together over the same course is an impressive feat and there is no doubt that events that showcase golfing talent regardless of gender, such as the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla, are the future of the game.’’

Norman’s sentiments were have been echoed by LET star Carly Booth and Staysure Tour member Phillip Price.

“I am delighted to be taking part in this unique event in Jordan,” said Booth. “I’ve always believed that we are all equal and creating environments where that can be celebrated can only be a good thing for our sport and also for our communities. It’s a great concept and I can’t wait to get going.”

Three-time European Tour winner and member of the victorious 2002 Ryder Cup squad, Price is also keen to see how the tournament plays out. The layout has been specifically set-up to ensure competitors from each circuit can compete over an equal playing field, with bunkering and hazards, alongside tee placement, taken into consideration.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity, not only to compete with the female players but also to test my game against the up-and-coming players on the Challenge Tour,” the Welshman commented. “Playing golf in Jordan and competing against the Ladies European Tour professionals are both new and exciting experiences and it’s going to be really interesting to see how the format works in practice.”