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Why bookmakers are firmly barred from Open

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Long gone are the days when the gloriously titled Wimbledon Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews personified stuffed-shirt Britishness.

As custodians of those two magnificent sporting institutions, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the Open Championship, they gained a reputation for doing things by the book, old boy.

Players who entered for Wimbledon had to abide by the 'all white' rule, which Andre Agassi did with tremendous sartorial effect.

Golfers who qualified for the British Open had to bring along their jackets or they would not have been allowed in the locker room. And, of course, amateurs were referred to as 'Mr' and professionals - they did it for money, perish the thought - went by their surnames.

Times and traditions have changed, though. 'All white' has become 'predominantly white', golf writers in torn jeans roam the clubhouse at St Andrews and Royal Troon and all players are known by their surnames.

Wimbledon, of course, have had a couple of 'people's Sundays' when the doors were thrown open to the public and they responded by creating a Wembley cup final atmosphere on Centre Court.

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