Muirfield the fight back

Rory McIlroy was trenchant in his criticism of Muirfield’s ‘No’ vote to women’s membership, and this is what he had to say on the matter.

“It’s not right to host the biggest golf tournament at a club where women are not allowed. Hopefully, Muirfield will see some sense and we can get it back on the rota.

“When we are trying to break out of this stuffy old image, this is not what we need. We are trying to move with the times and do things to make golf faster, make golf cooler and include more people. This wasn’t a great day.”

One ‘No’ voting member of Muirfield member has tried to justify the decision, and has laid in the boot to Rory. John Douglas, an 81-year-old former Scottish rugby player, said in an interview with The Scotsman:

“It wasn’t so much a vote against the ladies as a vote against the media and the press telling us what to do. No one likes being hammered all the time.

“We knew what was going to happen with the R & A and The Open, but we feel that we had to prove a point with a strong bunch behind the vote. We were quite pleased to win the final vote, but it is sad in a way as some of the ladies who work in the offices and elsewhere in the clubhouse have received horrible phone calls. I feel sorry for the committee and (the fallout from the vote) will all have to come to a halt sometime to allow the committee to relax a bit.”

And here's his pop at McIlroy, who had just donated his winnings at the Irish Open to charity.

 “It is ridiculous,” Douglas said. “You have Augusta with two women members and how can people like Rory McIlroy challenge us yet he goes and plays there. Is he telling everyone he is happy with two women being admitted there after all these years and it is now a mixed club ... come on. These players are two-faced. Who are they kidding? It is a total farce.”

Condoleezza Rice and IBM CEO, Gini Rometty, are nonetheless women, and their joining allowed Augusta to avoid the derision that has been heaped on Muirfield. I’d say they played a blinder against Muirfield’s woeful response. And going after Rory sure isn’t going to win them any more friends. I’d be making sure that this is the last we hear from Mr. Douglas. What doesn't Muirfield know about public relations?!

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