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Muirfield to host 2022 Women's Open

Muirfield will host the AIG Women's Open in 2022
Muirfield will host the AIG Women's Open in 2022

Muirfield will host the AIG Women's Open in 2022, five years after voting to admit women members for the first time.

The East Lothian course was one of five future venues for the championship announced by the R&A ahead of this year's event getting under way at Royal Troon on Thursday.

Carnoustie will stage the tournament in 2021, Walton Heath in 2023, St Andrews in 2024 and Royal Porthcawl in 2025.

Muirfield was immediately removed from the Open Championship rota after a first vote on admitting women members narrowly failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required in May 2016.

It was restored in March 2017 when the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs Muirfield, announced that the rule change had been passed by 498 votes to 123 after a second ballot.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "The world has changed quite a lot in the last five years. The game of golf has changed quite a lot.

"I think there is a lot more discussion and energy and commitment about the game being more modern and relevant to today's society and we couldn't have a more enthusiastic partner in the Honourable Company in wanting to stage this championship.

"I think it will be a fantastic place for the women golfers to go and play. I'm pretty excited already and I think Muirfield will really embrace it and give us a fantastic championship.

"It's a huge statement of their commitment to the game and the women's game. The whole five years (of these venues) is intended to be a huge statement of intent about how we want to provide the platform for the best women golfers to play on some of the best courses in GB&I.

"It's a five-year run that should really whet the appetite of every great golf lover."

Muirfield, Walton Heath and Royal Porthcawl will be hosting the women's major championship for the first time, Carnoustie for the second and St Andrews for the third.

Alistair Campbell, captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, said: "The Honourable Company relishes the prospect of hosting the AIG Women's Open in 2022.

"I know our members and many others will be enthusiastic in welcoming the world's best women golfers as they tackle our famous championship links." 

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