AIG Women’s Open: Muirfield finally opens its doors and welcomes historic women’s major | Golf News

Finally, Muirfield welcomes the world’s best and brightest women to its shores as the AIG Women’s Open takes its bow on the historic links.

As well as marking the first time a women’s event has been staged at the East Lothian course, it will also be the first men’s or women’s major to be held there since Phil Mickelson won The Open in 2013

The lengthy delay stems from an attempt to admit female members to the all-male honorary society, which was rejected in 2016. The decision drew strong criticism from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and other local MPs at the time , before the R&A removed Muirfield from the Open Round.

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Highlights from Anna Nordqvist’s final round 69 at the AIG Women’s Open as the Swede won by one stroke at Carnoustie

After a second poll within the next year, 80 percent voted in favor of admitting women members to pave the way for this summer’s event.

“It’s great. I think the ladies should be in the rotations we play,” said 1995 Open winner John Daly. “These golf courses that we play, and they’ve played British Opens all these years, it’s almost a home, especially with six or seven of eight of them in Scotland.

“I know they don’t want to come back, but it would be nice to see Turnberry back in the rotation. What Daddy (Donald) Trump has done in that place, I’ve heard, is amazing. They’re going to enjoy it. Muirfield is a field tough golf, but it’s fair. They’re going to enjoy it.”

Former world No.1 Ernie Els added: “Obviously a great place, great history. It’s great to see women playing at Muirfield. It’s great to see them play there. It’s one of the favourites. mine obviously. Obviously that and Muirfield and Lytham, they stand out for me.”

Anna Nordqvist arrives as the defending Women’s Open champion after beating Georgia Hall, Madelene Sagstrom and Lizette Salas by one stroke at Carnoustie last year. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre is well suited to the history of Muirfield and had success there in 2015 after winning the Scottish Amateur.

“Muirfield is a great place for me. I won the Scottish Amateur there a few years ago. It’s such a great golf course, I think it should have been opened up to the world,” he said. “I think it had to come to terms with the world, with life, allowing women to get into golf. You know what, they’re going to enjoy going out there and competing on such a great golf course.”

“I see them performing extremely well. They would play the golf course exactly the same way as us. to nurture it around some of them. I think it’s great. I think it’s great that they have the opportunity to play of course in the countries where we play, in a test of strong ties.”

Ian Poulter in the Women’s Open being held at Muirfield

Former Masters champion Danny Willett believes it would be “harsh” if the world’s best ladies golfers never experienced Muirfield in their careers.

“Golf is a real old game and there are still some traditions that will change over the next decade and I’m sure they’re trying to change and now they’re definitely playing at Muirfield,” Willett said. “That place is a fantastic golf course.

“We had a lot of fun playing The Open there when Phil won. It’s a phenomenal golf course. It’s great that they got the chance and they’re going to get a big winner there.”

Tommy Fleetwood has backed the women’s field to do well in notoriously challenging track conditions.

“I don’t think they need advice from me. They’ll be fine. But you go out there and do your preparation. And like a lot of links courses, you keep it in the game, try to do your best for them keep it down. freeways,” he explained. “Don’t push yourself too hard and try to let the results come to you. But I’m sure they don’t need my advice. They’ll be fine.”

Daly, meanwhile, warned of the wind that will test the entire course, which will play a par of 71 and measure approximately 6,680 yards.

“Muirfield off the tee is a lot tougher because you have both sides to worry about,” said the 56-year-old. “Like I say, you can hit it left here all day long. You can left kick him in the back and most of the time you’re fine.

“But Muirfield is different. It’s a different golf course. And the winds can blow your mind out there. So you have to be careful with the wind at Muirfield. It can change in a heartbeat.”

Els said, “Just the piece of property is amazing. You’re right on the water, but you don’t have a hole that’s over the water. Every single hole goes a little bit different, and the course is the way the members play it. There’s nothing tricked. Just what you see is what you get.”

Fleetwood has hailed a “great time” for golf in Scotland and the country’s “amazing courses” amid a run that includes the Scott Open, Open 150, Seniors Open and now the Women’s Open, with the Englishman backing his compatriot’s hall to add to her title in 2018.

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Georgia Hall showed off her ball-striking prowess, hitting her ball exactly 150 yards in the Open Zone Challenge!

“You move with the times, don’t you? And I think I’ll be looking forward to watching the women’s open at Muirfield. I really will,” he said. “It’s a great golf course and it’s a championship-level golf course, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy watching it.

“If I were to go with my heart, it would be Georgia [Hall to win] because she’s always up there in an Open and she’s doing great. I know him quite well. Anna won it last year, didn’t she? So she is the reigning champion.

“There’s a lot of great golfers, and then you look at the majors this year. It can be — I think the strength in the women’s game right now is — it’s similar to ours, really, like once you show up, there’s a long list of players who can do well and can go and win. It’s what makes the game great right now.”

Watch the AIG Women’s Open live from Muirfield on Sky Sports Golf. The live stream starts on Thursday from 11:00!