R&A prepares to break down ancient barrier and admit women as members
• Muirfield to start talks in readiness to follow suit
In Scotland’s other historic Thursday vote, members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews are expected to pass a motion in favour of women being admitted as members.
The 260-year-old institution, which has been the cornerstone of golf for that period, announced in March that a ballot would be taken over an issue which had triggered heavy criticism. Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, has previously admitted to “strong support” within the membership for change.
The permitting of a postal vote was thought to be significant in pushing the result towards a yes majority. A result is expected between 6pm and 7pm on Thursday on the admission of women and a move to fast-track up to 15 new female members.
A spokesman for the R&A said on Wednesday: “The club is balloting its members on a change to its membership rules that would enable it to welcome women members. Over 2,400 ballot papers have been sent out and the vote is independently scrutinised by Electoral Reform Services. A simple majority is required to effect the proposed change. Should the outcome be in favour of welcoming women members the decision will take immediate effect.
“The first women members in a mixed membership Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews are likely to have made a significant contribution to the development of our sport.”
Annika Sorenstam, the winner of 10 majors; Lady Angela Bonallack; Judy Bell and Carol Semple Thompson have all been mooted as potential members.
Confirmation of this move will have an automatic and intriguing knock-on for the Open Championship. Two venues, Muirfield and Royal St George’s, have a male-only membership policy. It was revealed this week that the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns Muirfield, is to start a consultation with membership over allowing women to join.
Royal Troon has stressed the difference with its rules, given the Ayrshire venue operates a ladies club. David Brown, the secretary at Troon, said: “At present, membership of Royal Troon is open only to those of the male gender and we have no plans to change our constitution at this time, although I must point out that we are quite different from many of the other single-gender clubs in that we share our facilities with an active ladies’ club.
“The Ladies Golf Club Troon (founded in 1882) is an autonomous club with 370 members and their own clubhouse, captain and committee, but play all of their golf on our Royal Troon courses; most of their competitions are held on our Portland course but they also have exclusive use of the Old Course (championship course) for some of their competitions and may play over the Old Course on demand. The Ladies Golf Club also have full access to our practice ground facilities.”
Billy Horschel’s form raises awkward Ryder Cup questions for Tom Watson
The upcoming Ryder Cup is in danger of being more notable for those American golfers who won’t compete than the ones who will.
Billy Horschel’s stunning run of form, which secured more than $13m in three weeks and three trophies including the FedEx Cup within just a fortnight, will prompt the inevitable raft of questions towards the USA captain Tom Watson, which he is likely to addresses when facing the media in his home country on Wednesday. Horschel, after all, was overlooked for a captain’s pick.
For his part, Horschel is perfectly relaxed about missing a trip to Gleneagles. The small matter of the impending birth of his first child – due on Ryder Cup day two – is prevalent in that way of thinking. “I’ll be supportive of the US team, and even with the extra win, I still don’t feel like I deserve to be on the team,” the 27-year-old insisted. “I haven’t played good enough this year. I haven’t played good enough over a two‑year period to be on the team, and I understand that. I’m not upset with that. I’m over it.
“I honestly wasn’t going to play the Ryder Cup if we couldn’t induce labour early. I wanted to be there for my wife and be there for our baby girl. But you know, when I started playing bad this year, you know, I sort of put it out of my mind that I wasn’t going to be picked. And obviously I wasn’t picked, and it’s going to work out perfectly.”
It is curious that the Tour Championship, the FedEx finale, falls after wildcard selections have been drawn, but nothing can really be done about that for now. Moves already seem afoot to move the event back to its previous calendar placement of immediately before the Ryder Cup. Horschel aside, Chris Kirk also finished the FedEx strongly; he too, had earlier been overlooked by Watson.
This marks an unfortunate circumstance for Watson, whatever way you look at it. Two of his three picks, Webb Simpson and Hunter Mahan, toiled badly at last weekend’s Tour Championship. Bubba Watson even went public on his previous necessity to calm Simpson down in a previous team event.
Horschel, meanwhile, was the epitome of calm when seeing off Rory McIlroy et al to prevail at East Lake. He is a gritty competitor, apparently unbowed by the pressure of high-profile situations. Precisely, in short, the kind of player any Ryder Cup team should utilise.
The USA’s troubles are compounded by the continued absence of Dustin Johnson. His controversial departure from the frontline of professional golf has masked one thing: Johnson is a seriously useful Ryder Cup player and would be especially so on the lush fairways of Gleneagles, where distance will be a virtue. He is a key US absentee, of that there can be no doubt.
And then there is Tiger Woods. For all injury and loss of form have hindered the 14-times major winner’s powers, every event has a different vibe when there is a Tiger factor. The Ryder Cup will pass along just fine without him but everyone – spectators, sponsors, television viewers – would have benefited from his presence.
Speaking this week, Woods seemed genuinely regretful about missing out on another Ryder Cup. This has been a recurring Woods theme; an apparently strong desire to play at Gleneagles and upset that fitness issues means he won’t. Either he is a very good actor – insert punchline here – or Woods’s attitude towards the old contest against Europe has softened with age.
“I’m going to miss it a lot,” Woods said. “I missed it a lot in ’08 when I wasn’t a part of the team. I’ve been a part of so many teams over the years that you start to understand what these teams mean, what kind of bonds guys develop because of that one week. You have bonds just because of that one week that you’re bonded for life. It’s just amazing what happens during that one week.
“We beat each other’s brains in 51 weeks of the year, and then we all of a sudden come together and make friendships for a lifetime. It’s pretty cool.”
There is a large photo in the Sawgrass clubhouse which shows Woods, Jason Dufner and Phil Mickelson – each resplendent in USA ties – in amiable conversation. Woods is even lying on the stairs at the time. That image endorses his sentiment.
For Watson, the focus has to be on discussion surrounding those who aren’t in his 12-man party for Scotland. It may not be particularly easy.
Rory McIlroy needs break after FedEx excess to recharge for Ryder Cup
• Open and US PGA champion suffers for his summer success
Rory McIlroy is well enough versed in the success of Tiger Woods to fully appreciate the level of mental intensity associated with the 14-times major winner’s previous dominance of golf. More than that, this year has offered McIlroy a practical snapshot.
McIlroy’s failure to claim the FedEx Cup in Atlanta on Sunday was hardly a disaster. Those who had paid close attention to him in recent weeks would have seen traces of the mental fatigue which is a natural consequence of a stunningly successful summer. By his own admission, McIlroy could not summon the energy for one final tilt at glory. Competing comes at a cost.
McIlroy has only appeared at the FedEx play-off finale twice, this year and in 2012, with opportunities to claim the $10m (£6.1m) bonus attached to victory evading him on both occasions.
“I really wanted to win,” he said. “I really wanted to cap this year off well, even though it’s still been a great year. I was coming in with really high hopes and expectations, and I haven’t quite been able to play the golf to live up to those.
“It’s still been a great season for me and there’s still a little bit of golf left. I’m looking forward to this little bit of time off and getting back at it, maybe next weekend, to get ready for the Ryder Cup.”
The Open and US PGA champion’s year is far from over. McIlroy will compete at the Ryder Cup and in individual events in Bermuda, Dubai, China and Australia before the end of 2014. Sunday at East Lake looked like an important moment, though, with McIlroy feeling the strain of four FedEx events in succession.
“It’s been a long four weeks,” McIlroy said. “You know, if I had to do it all over again, I probably would have taken a week off somewhere in this stretch of tournaments.
“It’s tough because these sponsors that are sponsoring the tournaments and the FedEx Cup play-offs, they’re putting up an awful lot of money to get the best players in the world to their event. Not that you feel obliged, but you want to support the events, you want to show up and give the sponsors something to be happy about and proud of.
“I’ve got a great relationship with BMW and that was probably the only reason why I did play in Denver [at the BMW Championship] last week. But at the same time, if I had to do it again, I probably would have taken a week off just to feel a little fresher coming to Atlanta.”
The back-to-back FedEx series is unlikely to be repeated. It was understood to be the idea of Tom Watson, who wanted a clear break before he leads the United States into the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles from Friday 26 September.
Two years ago, the Tour Championship immediately preceded the Ryder Cup, a matter Watson identified as troublesome during his discussions over the USA captaincy. That is notable, given the number of players who have made it clear that a hectic tournament run this time around has taken its toll.
“I think a week off will do a lot of us a world of good,” said McIlroy, who was far from alone in citing East Lake tiredness. “It really will. As I said already, I don’t want to see my clubs for a few days and I’ll pick them back up again probably at the weekend.
“Having these five days off is going to be big and I think a lot of guys will do the same thing. I don’t think tiredness or fatigue will play a part in the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said. “Now that all this is over, I’ll start thinking about it a lot more over the next few days and obviously get very excited about it. It’s a great way to get right back on the horse and get back at it. It’s always a phenomenal week and I’m sure it’ll be the same this time.”