News this week that Bermuda's Goodwill golf tournament will finally allow in its field a female player - the first in the event's long history - will no doubt be welcomed by many of those who play or follow the game.

In making their decision, Goodwill organisers may well have been conscious of, even influenced by, the much-publicised attacks on Augusta National in Georgia, home of the Masters, which continues to bar female players from its membership.

But, hopefully, they made their ruling simply because it was the right thing to do.

And judging from the comments of co-organiser Alex Madeiros there was never a hint of any controversy - although another of those on the organising committee apparently wasn't quite as enthusiastic about welcoming a female into the fold.

Nobody seems quite sure why a lady has never before taken part in a tournament that has proved one of the most popular in Bermuda over the past 40 years.

Perhaps, quite simply, no-one ever asked.

It is referred to on the annual Bermuda Golf Association calendar as the Goodwill Tournament (for men), and apparently on the entry forms sent to overseas clubs it states that teams of four must consist of one professional and three male amateurs.

As Kiersten Allbright of the Quechee Club in Vermont - the key figure in this story - happens to be assistant pro at her US club and will lead the team intending to compete in Bermuda in December, there doesn't seem to be any grounds for argument.

There's no directive on the entry form indicating that the professional has to be male - only the amateur players.

But that all said, there does remain an area of contention which will no doubt be cause for considerable discussion once the tournament gets underway.

Madeiros has stated that Allbright will be allowed to play from the ladies' tees, and to some that may constitute an unfair advantage.

It could be argued that if Allbright wants to play in what for all intents and purposes is a male tournament, then she must abide by the same rules and regulations as every other player in the event - and that includes playing from the same tees.

Forward tees and thus shorter holes can be an advantage not only to the less powerful hitters. In severe weather conditions, often prevalent around the time of the Goodwill, a player hitting from the ladies' tees may be much less exposed to the elements than those teeing off 20 to 30 yards further back.

If Allbright is to be given that advantage, then why not also those men over a certain age, let's say 60, who surely can't hit the ball as far as players in their 20s and 30s.

There could even be a case made for those players who weigh less than 150lbs being allowed to tee off in front of those who are much heavier and likely stronger.

That, of course, would be verging on the ridiculous but it illustrates the dilemma faced by Goodwill organisers.

If the event were mixed, there would be no problem. Ladies would play off the ladies' tees, and men off the men's.

But it's not. Apart from Allbright every competitor will be male. And some are bound to argue that to maintain an even playing field, all entrants must follow the same rules.

At the very least, it makes for interesting debate . . .

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The ineptitude and irritating manner of ESPN soccer commentator Tommy Smyth has in the past been documented in these columns, and likely many others.

Unfortunately, he's showing no signs of improvement.

Nearing the end of Wednesday's European Champions League match between Real Madrid and Belgian side, Racing Genk, with Real leading 6-0, Smyth chided the referee for allowing the three minutes added time.

"What on earth is the point of playing three more minutes when a team's leading 6-0?" he asked.

Perhaps the point is that during those three minutes, Genk could have scored once or maybe even twice, thus changing significantly the goal difference of both teams which ultimately could decide which clubs advance from the group stages.

Or perhaps, Tommy, the point is that a football match is played over 90 minutes and it's up to the officials to decide when 90 minutes of actual playing time is complete.

If we follow Smyth's logic, with a team leading 6-0 at half-time there'd be little point in playing the second half.