Royal Troon votes to admit female members

Ailing US golfing legend Tiger Woods withdrew from the British Open at Royal Troon on Friday as he continues to recover from back surgery he underwent a year ago. Woods has not played in almost a year as he recovers from two back operations.

“I keep getting physically better”.

Royal Troon, the host of this month’s British Open, will now admit women members. I still need to get in golf shape.

Last week he said he was making progress, but that he was not in the right shape to play four days’ consecutively and from past experience did not want to rush his comeback. In 2015, another Open venue – Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Kent, England – also voted to allow female members.

Woods broke par only one round in his Royal Troon debut in 1997 when he tied for 24th. In 2004, while he was rebuilding his swing, he tied for ninth, his only top 10 in a major that year.

William McGirt, who began the second round with a three-shot lead, had a 74 and was two shots back at 138.

Tiger Woods has confirmed that he will not take part in this year’s Open Championship.

Pettersen was bidding to become the Portland Classic’s second three-time victor, joining Nancy Lopez (1985, 1987, 1992).

South Korea’s Wang Jeung-hun matched McIlroy’s 66, while Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand – who was one stroke behind overnight leader Lucas Bjerregaard of Denmark – posted a 1-under 70 for a share of the lead.

The 42-year-old Australian had seven birdies and a bogey for a 15-point round and 39-point total at Montreux in the scoring system that awards eight points for double eagle, five points for eagle, two points for birdie and deducts a point for bogey and three points for double bogey or worse.

Defending champion Bernd Wiesberger of Austria posted a 70 and is one shot behind at five under, followed by South African Brandon Stone and four other players at three under.

The Northern Irishman could have taken the overall lead at the Le Golf National course – which is hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup – but a poor tee shot on the 18th hole led to a bogey.

David Lingmerth hits from the 14th fairway during the second round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament at Firestone Country Club, Friday, July 1, 2016, in Akron, Ohio.

And on Monday, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers announced that it had called a special general meeting to seek approval to organise a second vote later this year on Muirfield’s male-only membership policy, which could bring that club back into the Open fold.

Royal Troon reportedly canvassed members at the end of May to discover whether the measure to admit female members would pass before conducting Friday’s poll.

“We have said a number of times recently that it is important for golf clubs to reflect the society in which we exist and the modern world that looks to us”, Royal Troon Golf Club captain, Dr. Martin Cheyne, said in a statement.

Royal Troon is the only remaining host club to maintain a male-only membership policy after golf governing body The R&A removed Muirfield from the rota when its members voted against accepting female members.