Muirfield to hold second ballot on female members

would no longer be considered as a host venue of the Open.

With politicians, golfers, media and, more pertinently, the public heaping their derision on Muirfield, the embarrassment was so great that another vote was quickly planned. Sources are adamant that this time the numbers will be hugely in support of change.

A statement from the Honourable Company, which owns and runs the East Lothian course, said: “The postal ballot will be independently scrutinised and the outcome is expected to be announced in midMarch. Voting in favour of the resolution to admit women as members is recommended, unanimously, by the captain, captain nominate and the club committee.”

Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, reacted positively to the news, saying: “If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for the Open in future.”

Muirfield has staged the Open 16 times, producing a who’s who of champions, including Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice), Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson. Since the Royal & Ancient – the St Andrews club closely linked to the R&A – voted to allow women as members in 2014, both Royal St George’s and Royal Troon have followed suit.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods’s agent provided further information about the state of his client’s faltering health. The 14-time major-winner pulled out of this week’s LA Open because of “ongoing back spasms”. He could not even attend a press conference at Riviera Country Club due to the severity of the pain, despite having travelled to California.

“The doctors advised he just stay horizontal,” Mark Steinberg said. “We are not talking about an extended break.”