WOMEN WILL FINALLY be allowed to join the famous Muirfield golf club after members passed the proposal for change with an 80.2% majority today, in a decision that could see the British Open return to the Scottish venue.
More than 92% of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers members, which owns and runs the Muirfield course, took part in the vote, 498 being in favour of the move and 123 against.
The motion needed a two-thirds majority to be passed, and after a previous attempt to change the rules failed last May, there was no such trouble this time around.
After last year’s push for change narrowly missed the two-thirds quota, the R&A, golf’s ruling body, announced that the course would not be in the mix to host the British Open again while the rule remained in place.
However, on the back of today’s decision, the R&A has already confirmed that Muirfield will be able to host the iconic event once more.
The club, which was founded in 1744, has previously hosted the British Open on 16 occasions, most recently in 2013, when Phil Mickelson prevailed.
Dublin’s Portmarnock Golf Club is one of the remaining venues around the world that still retains its male-only policy.
Meanwhile, BBC has announced an extension of its deal to broadcast the US Masters which will see the British broadcaster continue to screen highlights from the opening two rounds at Augusta and the third and fourth rounds in full.
This year’s tournament will run from 6-9 April.
