A three-and-a-half Tournament Players Committee meeting tonight has approved in players being allowed to wear shorts during practice rounds and in pro-ams.

Three players – Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els – wore shorts on Tuesday in practice ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship, in what is now seen as a statement supporting the move.

Clarke and Westwood had worn shorts in practice ahead of last week’s EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur but not during the Pro-Am when the Queen of Malaysia was in attendance.

It is the first time since 1979 that European Tour members can wear shorts during practice rounds.

England’s Lee Westwood on the Abu Dhabi range and wearing shorts

In October 2012 England’s Justin Rose wore shorts in defeating Westwood in the final of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final, and an event leading to the Turkish Airlines Open.