Rory McIlroy: I won't have a great taste in my mouth at Muirfield

Rory McIlroy has indicated he cannot easily forgive Muirfield members despite their belated vote to admit women members for the first time in the 273-year history of the course this week.
Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy

The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers voted 80 per cent in favour of the rule change on Tuesday, having initially rejected the change with a majority 'no' vote in May 2016.

The vote means Muirfield will now be restored to the rota to stage the Open Championship - but McIlroy, speaking prior to the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Bay Hills, said the issue was not over.

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McIlroy told a press conference ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational: "In this day and age where you've got women who are the leaders of certain industries and heads of state, not being able to join a golf course, I think it's obscene and ridiculous.

"They (Muirfield) sort of saw sense, but I still think (that) it got to this stage is horrendous.

"We'll go back and play the Open because they've let women members in, but every time I go to Muirfield now I won't have a great taste in my mouth."

McIlroy strongly supported governing body the R&A last year when it stated that Muirfield would be removed from the list of Open venues until it had a change of heart.