Rory McIlroy: Muirfield's ban on women members tarnishes golf's image

Updated 20/05/2016 at 09:00 GMT

World number three Rory McIlroy believes Muirfield's decision not to admit women members has tarnished golf's image and backs the move to drop the course from the list of venues for Britain's Open championship.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland

Image credit: AFP

Muirfield, close to Edinburgh, has retained a male-only membership policy since it was founded in 1744 and a vote to admit women members fell short of the required two-thirds majority on Thursday.

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"The damage to golf's image is more important than us losing an Open course," said McIlroy, 27.

"We have such a strong ladies tour. We have the Olympics coming up, which is all about including everyone.

"The girls are going to get so much exposure from being in the Olympics with the men. It's 2016. Time moves on... Everyone should have the opportunity to join a club if they want to."

Especially when we are trying to break out of this stuffy old image, this is not what we need... In this day and age it is a little disappointing to see. I think the R&A made the right decision.

Four-times major champion McIlroy made his comments after the first round of the Irish Open on Thursday, where he trails Masters winner Danny Willett by two shots, with Willett having shot a 65.

OUR VIEW

McIlroy's views will be welcomed by many in golf as he carries such a huge influence within the sport. There is surely no way that the Open Championship could be staged at a venue which compromises on what the sport is trying to achieve with gender equality.

McIlroy says "this is not what we need", but at least he has come out in support of the decision from the R&A and things can at least move on at other venues instead.