FILE PHOTO: Golf - The 150th Open Championship - Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain - July 17, 2022 General view as Australia's Cameron Smith putts a birdie on the 18th during the final round REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
(Reuters) - The Australian Open will no longer have the men's and women's tournaments take place simultaneously, Golf Australia said on Saturday after the dual gender format drew criticism from top players.
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's and women's national Opens, which were previously standalone events.
