Golf's Reckoning: Can Elite Clubs Truly Change After Decades of Exclusion?
When Rory McIlroy now advocates for Muirfield's return to golf's most prestigious tournament rotation, it raises a fundamental question about institutional change and accountability in elite sports. Can a club that spent decades excluding women truly transform, or does bringing back the Open Championship send the wrong message about consequences for discriminatory practices?
A Decade of Exclusion Meets Modern Values
The story begins in 2016, when Muirfield's members voted to maintain their men-only policy. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) responded decisively, removing the historic course from the Open Championship rotation. "The Open is one of the world's great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members," the organization declared.
McIlroy, then as now one of golf's biggest stars, supported the decision. His words were uncompromising: "In this day and age, where you've got women that are like the leaders of certain industries and women that are heads of state and not to be able to join a golf course? I mean, it's obscene. Like it's ridiculous."
The Business of Redemption
Fast forward to 2026, and McIlroy's stance has evolved. Speaking at the Dubai Desert Classic, he argued that Muirfield "deserves to be back on the Open rota." The course, he noted, has "rectified the issues that they had" by admitting women members in 2019 and hosting the Women's Open in 2022.
But McIlroy's reasoning reveals something telling about how institutional change is measured in elite circles. He emphasized the "commercial viability" of bringing the Open back to Muirfield, suggesting that economic considerations now weigh heavily in discussions of redemption.
Beyond Golf: A Broader Conversation About Accountability
This debate extends far beyond the fairways of Scotland. In an era where institutions across society grapple with their exclusionary pasts, Muirfield's case study offers insights into how organizations attempt to rehabilitate themselves after discriminatory practices.
The question isn't whether Muirfield has technically changed its policies. It has. The deeper issue is whether swift readmission to elite circles adequately reflects the gravity of decades-long exclusion, and what message this sends to other institutions still practicing discrimination.
Critics might argue that allowing Muirfield back so quickly undermines the R&A's original principled stand. Supporters counter that organizations should be rewarded for meaningful change, not perpetually punished for past wrongs.
The Path Forward
As the R&A considers its next move, the decision will likely reflect broader societal tensions about forgiveness, accountability, and the pace of institutional change. With open spots in the tournament rotation available from 2028 onward, the organization has time to weigh these competing values.
McIlroy's evolution from critic to advocate mirrors society's own complex relationship with institutions seeking redemption. Whether Muirfield returns to hosting the Open Championship will signal not just golf's values, but how quickly we're willing to forgive when change finally comes.