DUBLIN - Former British Open champions Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie expressed disbelief Thursday at a vote by Muirfield not to allow women members.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington is a two-time winner of the British Open
A proposal to allow female members did not receive the required two-thirds majority needed, with 387 members -- or 64 percent -- voting in favour and 219 members -- or 36 percent -- voting against
The R&A, the sport's joint-ruling body with the United States Golf Association, reacted immediately by announcing that Muirfield, in Scotland, will no longer be selected as a venue for the Open, the oldest of golf's four majors.
Harrington won back-to-back Opens in 2007 at Carnoustie and then a year later at Royal Birkdale and the Irishman also is an ambassador for the R&A.
"The R&A have a big responsibility, not just to golf but to society because of the position they hold and they have to do these things," he said after posting a four-over-par 76 on day one of the Irish Open at the K. Club.
"It's only right that the R&A do remove Muirfield.... if you want to hold yourself out there you have to give an equal chance to everybody."
Lawrie, who won the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, fully supported the R&A decision to ban Muirfield from the Open rota.
"In this day and age I just can't understand why any golf clubs don't allow female members," said Lawrie.
"There is no argument on that. It's their golf club and they can do what they want. I'm not telling them what to do but I am I'm surprised to hear they've (Muirfield) done that.
"How can you not let ladies be a member of a golf club. It just doesn't make any sense. Imagine not being able to take your wife into the golf club? It's just not right."