Yet after web hosting 16 men’s British Open Championships across 130 yrs, on Thursday, the women’s event will certainly tee off at the fabled Scottish hyperlinks course for the first time.
It has been a long wait that looked set to be extented in May 2016 once the privately owned club’s members — The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers — identified against overturning its male-only membership policy. Founded in 1744 with Leith in Edinburgh, the club relocated to the East Lothian site in 1891.
The result of that vote has been labeled “obscene” by four-time main champion Rory McIlroy and “indefensible” simply by Scotland’s First Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Nicola Sturgeon, and the Royal and Historic (R& A) — organizers of the Open — promptly banned the training course from hosting the.
However , Muirfield was reinstated as an Open location in March the following year after a fresh new ballot saw the club vote 80. 2% in favor of accepting women members, achieving the two-thirds majority necessary to overturn the 2016 vote.
Five yrs on, the program opens its doors for the fifth plus final major of the women’s season, much to the delight from the participants.
It will be a special kind of excitement just for Scottish golfer Catriona Matthew who, outside of having the opportunity to encounter a major just a short drive from home, goes down in history because the first woman to tee off in Muirfield in a Ladies Open.
“It’s a huge recognition when you’re asked to do something like that, ” Matthew, Open champion at Royal Lytham in 2009, told reporters Tuesday.
“I believe it’s going to be a great encounter… all the players may have watched the men play here through the years and I think they are pleased to have that opportunity to come here plus play their own Open.
“That just elevates this particular championship, and we are now going to courses that people are used to seeing The particular Open and the majors on. I think it can good for us. inch
The 52-year-old admitted she was “disappointed” with the initial election to maintain male-only regular membership, but believes the reversal showed progress is being made.
“You just have to look forward instead of look backwards, ” Matthews added. “Golf, starting in Scotland, we had a lot more traditions perhaps, that we’re just gradually moving with the times.
“Hopefully any girls or guys who are golfing, they can see both the men and the women playing the same golf courses, that is good. ”
Lioness lessons
Anna Nordqvist arrives in Eastern Lothian as the protecting Open champion, getting clinched an one-stroke victory at Carnoustie last year. With her first major look coming as an novice at the event in 2007, the success consolidated a “special” connection between the three-time major-winning Swede and the Open.
“I’ve heard a lot about Muirfield, ” Nordqvist said. “I know the guys have played here over the years, so I think that it is an amazing opportunity for us to have Muirfield added to our Open rotator.
“Coming in through the gate, (I) saw the picture — it is the first picture you see — obviously it still feels quite surreal to have our name on the trophy, ” she added.
A historic Open at Muirfield marks the continuation of the landmark week meant for women’s sport, following England’s footballing Lionesses’ very first international championship win on Sunday, watched by an Euro final record crowd on Wembley Stadium.
Despite the pain of seeing Sweden routed 4-0 within the semi-final by the eventual champions, Nordqvist views parallels in the increased coverage of ladies football and golfing.
“It’s just exciting to see that I think women’s sport (all) over the world is getting more attention, ” she said.
“It was quite a big event, how they were hosting this and the TV times, I think that’s very important. Our tee instances are getting better, as well. A lot of times, we first tee off early due to the fact (of)… the guys’ schedule. inch
‘Recharged’
Whilst Nordqvist tees away from as reigning champion, Brooke Henderson begins as arguably the form player.
With the girl 2nd major victory at the Evian Championship in July, the Canadian made it two Tour wins in just over a month. The 24-year-old has finished no less than 16th in any of her previous 5 events.
After withdrawing through the Scottish Open, earned by Japan’s Ayaka Furue on Weekend, Henderson is “recharged” and raring to visit.
“To be actively playing this year, it really means a lot to all of us, ” she said. “It’s just evidence that the women’s video game is continuing to grow — the particular purse sizes are increasing, we’re on network TV a lot more, and we’re playing these better venues.
“It’s just a really fun time to be a part of can certainly golf, because it is increasing so much and we feel as if we’re making a distinction for future decades. ”
After a three-month lücke that began in March, due to a blood clog , World No . 3 Nelly Korda is relishing each second back on Tour, especially before a landmark main.
“I was extremely capable to come out and play this event this year, inch she said.
“I knew the history, and the fact that we were going to be the first female tournament out there here, too, had been pretty amazing.
“So I was just more excited to actually be out here and also to get to play this particular golf course and soak it all up, and also the history of this place. ”
Catriona Matthew is placed to tee off first in her group alongside Sophia Schubert plus Louise Duncan on 6: 30 a. m. local time (01: 30 a. m. ET) on Thursday.