This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jun/28/alex-salmond-boycott-open-muirfield

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Alex Salmond to boycott Open over Muirfield's men-only policy Alex Salmond to boycott Open over Muirfield's men-only policy
(3 months later)
Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, will not attend this year's Open championship in protest at the host club Muirfield's men-only membership policy.Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, will not attend this year's Open championship in protest at the host club Muirfield's men-only membership policy.
The return of the Open to Muirfield, in East Lothian, in mid-July will put the issue of the club's attitude towards women back in the spotlight.The return of the Open to Muirfield, in East Lothian, in mid-July will put the issue of the club's attitude towards women back in the spotlight.
Salmond, who is a keen golf fan, told the BBC: "I just think it's indefensible in the 21st century not to have a golf club that's open to all."Salmond, who is a keen golf fan, told the BBC: "I just think it's indefensible in the 21st century not to have a golf club that's open to all."
Muirfield is formally known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. "If Muirfield had the Honourable Company of Women Golfers as well and had a women's company who played the course … some clubs do that and that's pretty acceptable," Salmond said.Muirfield is formally known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. "If Muirfield had the Honourable Company of Women Golfers as well and had a women's company who played the course … some clubs do that and that's pretty acceptable," Salmond said.
"But to have the message that women are not welcome as members, can't be members, can't have playing rights over the course on the same basis as men, seems to send out entirely the wrong message about the future of golf.""But to have the message that women are not welcome as members, can't be members, can't have playing rights over the course on the same basis as men, seems to send out entirely the wrong message about the future of golf."
When last pressed on the routine selection of clubs such as Muirfield as Open venues, Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, the game's ruling body, was unrepentant. He said: "To think that the R&A might say to a club like Muirfield 'you are not going to have the Open any more unless you change your policy' is frankly a bullying position that we would never take.When last pressed on the routine selection of clubs such as Muirfield as Open venues, Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, the game's ruling body, was unrepentant. He said: "To think that the R&A might say to a club like Muirfield 'you are not going to have the Open any more unless you change your policy' is frankly a bullying position that we would never take.
"Muirfield has a huge history of the Open championship, this will be the 16th time it has been played there and who are we to say what they should do because they are behaving perfectly legally.""Muirfield has a huge history of the Open championship, this will be the 16th time it has been played there and who are we to say what they should do because they are behaving perfectly legally."
A spokesperson for Salmond said the first minister would attend the Scottish Open a week earlier at Castle Stuart. "The Scottish Open is being held the week before the Open championship, and the first minister will not be at Muirfield but he wishes everyone involved all the best for a great tournament.A spokesperson for Salmond said the first minister would attend the Scottish Open a week earlier at Castle Stuart. "The Scottish Open is being held the week before the Open championship, and the first minister will not be at Muirfield but he wishes everyone involved all the best for a great tournament.
"His views on single-sex golf clubs are well-enough known, but we are sure this year's Open will be another fantastic advert for Scotland, and we expect tourism minister Fergus Ewing to attend for the Scottish government.""His views on single-sex golf clubs are well-enough known, but we are sure this year's Open will be another fantastic advert for Scotland, and we expect tourism minister Fergus Ewing to attend for the Scottish government."
A spokesman for the Open said: "When the championship is staged in Scotland we invite the first minister to attend and we hope to see him again at St Andrews in 2015."A spokesman for the Open said: "When the championship is staged in Scotland we invite the first minister to attend and we hope to see him again at St Andrews in 2015."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.