Muirfield membership votes to admit women; R&A places back in Open rotation

The membership of Muirfield in Scotland took advantage of a mulligan, announcing Tuesday their all-male membership, known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, voted overwhelmingly to allow female members for the first time in the club’s 270-year history.

This was the second time a by-mail vote was taken of the membership to admit women, with the bid to admit female members in May 2016 falling short of a required two-thirds majority by 14 votes. This time, 80.2 percent of the membership voted in favor of changing the club’s policy, marking a 104-vote increase over the initial vote.

Anna Diertrich Pascale Reinhard and Janet Siehnthiler from Switzerland stand outside Muirfield Golf Club following their round of golf on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

The R&A, which puts on the British Open, had removed Muirfield as part of its rotation of Open host courses until the membership committed to allowing female members. Within minutes of Muirfield’s announcement of the results, R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers welcomed the 16-time Open host back to the rotation.

“In light of today’s decision by the Honourable Company we can confirm that Muirfield will become a venue for The Open once again,” Slumbers said. “Muirfield has a long and important history of hosting The Open and with today’s announcement that will continue. It is extremely important for us in staging one of the world’s great sporting events that women can become members at all of our host clubs. Muirfield is a truly outstanding Open venue and we very much look forward to taking the Championship back there in future.”

Muirfield last hosted the Open in 2013, when Phil Mickelson shockingly broke through for is fifth major title in a championship he never thought he would win.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo Sports