PAUL LAWRIE last night led the condemnation of the membership of Muirfield in the wake of the East Lothian club being removed from the rota for The Open Championship as a result of its refusal to admit women members.
A two-thirds majority of 648 eligible voters was required to alter the constitution of the club, a privately-owned links run by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, but only 64 per cent of the 616 who took part voted in favour with 36 per cent against.
Muirfield was told by the R&A just a matter of minutes after announcing the result that it would no longer host The Open with Lawrie, who won the tournament in 1999, clear on his view that the correct step has been taken.
"The R&A are right to do what they've done," he said.
"How can you not let ladies be a member of a golf club? Imagine not being able to take your wife into the golf club. It's just not right."
Catriona Matthew, who won the Women's Open in 2009 at Royal Lytham and lives only a few miles from Muirfield in North Berwick, took to social media to express her anger.
"Embarrassed to be a Scottish women (sic) golfer from East Lothian after that decision," she tweeted. She also posted a comment saying “well done” to the R&A.
Padraig Harrington, a three-time major winner, has also backed the governing body in their actions.
"The R&A have done the right thing for the bigger picture," said the Irishman. "Muirfield may go ahead and say we want just be a small golf club and mind their own business and that's fine, but minding their own business isn't holding The Open is it?"
A leaked letter suggested the membership of Muirfield, which last staged The Open in 2013, were concerned by the speed of play from women.
"Generally, ladies play a lot faster than men," said Harrington. "Every lady I've ever seen on the golf course seems to want to rush around. They are so anxious about that end of things.”
Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the European Tour's tournament players' committee, was left in disbelief.
"It's a shame that one of the best golf courses in the world is off the Open rota. I'm gobsmacked," said the Dane.
"People can have their little clubs, but, if you want to be in the public eye, then I'm sorry, I think we're past that."
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