The Official Golf Thread

[Orior]

Rory 9 under, with just the par 5 final hole to go

Dropped 1

Best time to do it. It will keep him grounded and reminds him he needs to keep practicing!

[Boycey]

Much tougher conditions today, Lowry having a nightmare start dropping 4 shots at 1st 3 holes..

[laoislad]

This could easily have also gone in the What the f**k Thread.
Murifield golf club have been taken off the Open rota after the vote to allow female members in the club was defeated.

The R&A, who control where the British Open is played, acted swiftly following the member's vote to take the course from the rota. The Edinburgh venue last hosted the Open in 2013, when Phil Mickelson claimed the claret jug.

The vote was somehow defeated by a majority of 64-36; and a letter circulated from the 'no' campaign arguing some of the stupidest points we've ever seen. The letter, which has already been branded as an embarrassment to golf by Ewan Murray, begins by emphasising the importance of the club and it's lunch, before ending with how the introduction of ladies into the club could threaten that:

We are not an ordinary club. Our special nature; 'a gentleman's club where golf is played' is quite unique with its fraternity built inter alia on foursomes play with a round taking only the same time as lunch and leaving enough time for a further round after lunch (even in mid winter). This is one of the miracles in modern day play and is much admired. Our foursomes 
and speedy play would be endangered.

We are criticised by some for being 'elitist', but if we are that is entirely due to a membership selection process which emphasises an overriding requirement that prospective members appreciate and accept our traditions.
The introduction of lady members is bound to create difficulties. Regardless of the conventions when they first join they are likely over time to question our foursomes play, our match system, the uncompromising challenge our fine links present, our lunch arrangements. It will take a very special lady golfer to be able to do all the things that are expected of them in the template which is suggested and the ladies' membership as a whole may not meet this standard.

It seems very strange to take a step to fundamentally change a strong institution with real risks to that strength in order to retain a 'one off' event that happens rarely. This is made even more strange when it is possible that the change may not work.
It's hard not to be surprised by something like this in 2016, but perhaps we shouldn't be. When Muirfield hosted the 2007 Senior Open, a female executive of the European Tour was forced to eat in the kitchen - because she wasn't permitted in the clubhouse, via the guardian.

[Orior]

LaoisLad,

apparently Rory is trying hard this year to win his home Open. Are you miffed?

[laoislad]

LaoisLad,

apparently Rory is trying hard this year to win his home Open. Are you miffed?

No not really sure he already won it in 2014.

[Orior]

LaoisLad,

apparently Rory is trying hard this year to win his home Open. Are you miffed?

No not really sure he already won it in 2014.

lol

[Milltown Row2]

LaoisLad,

apparently Rory is trying hard this year to win his home Open. Are you miffed?

No not really sure he already won it in 2014.

lol

Good start by the host, Willett going great guns also

[Gabriel_Hurl]

2 incredible shots on 16 and 18 there from Rory

[beer baron]

Great stuff Rory, winning his home open today clearly means a lot to him.   

[laoislad]

Great stuff Rory, winning his home open today clearly means a lot to him.   

Wrapped in the tri colour now I'm sure....

[Boycey]

That's the way to win a golf tournament... Top class Rory.

[Dinny Breen]

All his winnings to charity, class act.

[Boycey]

All his winnings to charity, class act.

Ah sure he'll probably give it all to British charities anyway 

[Milltown Row2]

All his winnings to charity, class act.

That's a serious amount of money to go to his charity .....

[ziggy90]

All his winnings to charity, class act.

Ah sure he'll probably give it all to British charities anyway 

You're some w**ker.