Scottish golf course Muirfield voted on Tuesday to admit female members, which immediately allows the links to regain its status as a British Open venue. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers voted in favour of admitting women members for the first time by 498 to 123, club captain Henry Fairweather announced. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the sport's joint-ruling body with the United States Golf Association, said Muirfield could once again become a venue for the British Open. "This is a significant decision for a club which was founded in 1744 and retains many of the values and aspirations of its founding members," Fairweather said. - AP

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