Orlando, FL …

Former Open Champions were naturally unanimous in applauding the decision by Muirfield to allow women members.

It was the second postal vote for the Edinburgh club that hosted the 2013 Open and with nearly 80% of the male members voting after a second postal vote in favour of women members.

What remains sadly archaic in 2017 is that among the male members there is 123 dinosaurs who still  voted ‘NO’.

However, that did not spoil the delight expressed by Open Champions Zach Johnson (2015), Stewart Cink (2009) and Louis Oosthuizen (2010) being delighted to hear the news.

ZACH JOHNSON 

“I applaud them for certainly getting with the times and with what seems common sense.  It seems like our sport is trying to go to common sense in a lot of arenas, and in both facets of the game.

“The one thing is that Muirfield is one of my favourite golf courses I have ever played and to know that we may never go there again was kind of disheartening.”

STEWART CINK

Stewart Cink winning the Claret Jug after a play-off with Tom Watson in 2009 at Turnberry.

“It’s a great step forward and I don’t think the world needs club that exclude people on the basis of gender or race.   So, for Muirfield to decide to move forward and encourage women members is great as it should mean a lot to their club.

“Secondarily, the golf course is one of the very best in the world and should be in The Open rotation.”

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

Louis Oosthuizen winning in 2010 at the Home of Golf.

“Muirfield is a great golf course with a lot of history, and it would have been sad not to have the course in the rotation but then I don’t see any problem having women members in golf clubs so it’s great seeing the club making changes in that regard.”