Muirfield bars female golfers, R&A reacts

The R&A, organiser of the British Open, says it won't stage the major at venues not accepting female members after a vote by the historic Muirfield club.

Muirfield, one of the golf clubs which hosts the British Open, has voted against admitting women as members.

The R&A, which organises the British Open, reacted by saying it will no longer stage the major championship at clubs which do not accept female members.

Muirfield and Royal Troon are the only hosts on the British Open rotation to still exclude women.

The decision was announced on Thursday after a vote of Muirfield's 750 members following a two-year consultation process at the Scottish club. A two-thirds majority was required for the change to take place.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews, the spiritual "home of golf," opened its membership to women in 2014 for the first time in 260 years. Royal St George's, another British Open host, ended its male-only membership last year.