EUROPEAN TOUR: The European Tour players' committee do not want to see any more women compete on the circuit.

Laura Davies finished next to last when she became the first women to appear on the tour in Australia three weeks ago, while Annika Sorenstam, Suzy Whaley and Michelle Wie have all missed the halfway cut in US Tour events in the past year.

Although 14-year-old Wie failed by just one shot in Hawaii in January and like Sorenstam gave the event huge publicity, new committee chairman Jamie Spence said: "We're certainly not anti-women, but we think we should stick to our own tours.

"It was discussed in depth and it's fair to say that from the players' point of view we don't want women in our tournaments. Some of our own players are struggling for starts."

Davies's appearance at the co-sanctioned ANZ Championship was not initiated by the tour. The sponsors and host Australasian circuit invited her.

Spence has taken over as chairman from Mark James, who is now a member of the US Seniors Tour, and telephoned him following the meeting.

The call was about how not to let the demands of his new position affect his golf.

"I found it difficult the next day to switch off," he said. "I really want to do a good job, but I've also got a living to make."

Players have to make the halfway cut to earn prize money, but Spence looked like missing out after two 73s put him on two over in Dubai.

US TOUR: Retief Goosen held the clubhouse lead during the second round of the Ford Championship at Doral, Miami yesterday. Goosen added a 68 to his first round score of 67 to go eight under par, one stroke ahead of Phil Mickelson.

Early second round scores: 135- R Goosen; 136 - P Mickelson; 137 - A Cejka, C Perks, M Calcavecchia. 138 - D Paulson, J Durrant, C DiMarco, D Ellis.