Second Muirfield ballot result on admitting women members to be announced in mid-march

THE result of a second ballot on admitting women members at Muirfield is expected to be announced by the middle of next month.

A press release issued on behalf of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs Muirfield, read: “The postal ballot will be independently scrutinised and the outcome is expected to be announced in mid-March 2017.

“Voting in favour of the resolution to admit women as Members is recommended, unanimously, by the captain, captain nominate and the club committee of the Honourable Company.”

After the first vote narrowly failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required last year, the R&A announced that the Scottish course would no longer be considered to host the Open Championship.

“If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for The Open in future,” R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said.

Muirfield has staged the Open 16 times and produced a who’s who of champions, including Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice), Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.

Speaking after the first vote, former Open champion Rory McIlroy said: “They (Muirfield) can do what they want, but in this day and age it’s not right to host the world’s biggest tournament at a place that does not allow women to become members.

“Hopefully they can see some sense and we can get it back there one day.”