{"id":21283,"date":"2013-07-21T12:03:29","date_gmt":"2013-07-21T10:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/no-women-allowed-at-the-british-open\/"},"modified":"2013-07-21T12:03:29","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T10:03:29","slug":"no-women-allowed-at-the-british-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/no-women-allowed-at-the-british-open\/","title":{"rendered":"No women allowed at the British Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"Justin<\/a><\/p>\n

Justin Rose of England hits a shot on the 18th ahead of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 17, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. Photo: Getty Images<\/p>\n

The 142nd British Open<\/a> started on Sunday at the home of Scotland<\/a>\u2018s Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Muirfield.<\/p>\n

But rather than celebrating the display of the world\u2019s oldest golfing club hosting golf\u2019s oldest major, media attention has focused on Muirfield\u2019s membership policy: females are not allowed.<\/p>\n

Scotland\u2019s First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed over the weekend that he would not be attending the tournament, saying that \u201cit\u2019s just indefensible in the 21st century not to have golf clubs open to both males and females.\u201d<\/p>\n

He insisted back in June that the sport\u2019s governing body, the Royal and Ancient, should pressure Muirfield<\/a> to change its rules in time for the tournament, a suggestion that Peter Dawson, RA\u2019s chief executive, said would amount to \u201cbullying\u201d of clubs.<\/p>\n

The club itself has stayed fairly quiet on the matter. It issued a statement through a public relations agency saying that it \u201cwelcomes women to play either as visitors or guests year round\u201d.<\/p>\n

Muirfield has also pointed out that it has played host to many women\u2019s tournaments, including the Curtis Cup.<\/p>\n

In a press conference on Wednesday Dawson promised that the RA will take a look at the issue. Dawson stated that attempts to draw a comparison between men-only clubs and clubs organized by race were \u201cabsurd.\u201d \u2013 Time Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

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