Golfing legend Ernie Els believes that the historic Muirfield should play host to The Open once again, but this wish will not come as music to the ears of past adversary Rory McIlroy
Ernie Els has called for The Open to make a return to Muirfield(Image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy once admitted he’d be left with a bitter taste in his mouth whenever he played at Muirfield, and Ernie Els has now called for The Open to return to the Scottish course.
Muirfield was removed from the major tournament’s hosting rotation in 2016 after a controversial vote upheld the ban on women becoming course members. Though this decision was reversed one year later, the damage had been done in McIlroy’s eyes.
The Open has not returned to this venue since it was restored to the rotation in 2017, but now Els, who has clashed with Masters champion McIlroy in the past, has made a passionate admission about the course.
“Yes, Muirfield should host [The Open] as soon as possible,” the two-time Open champion told reporters at the launch of his Els Club Vilamoura, a new Algarve golf course.
“I’m not sure why it’s not gone back there. It’s been more than 10 years. Normally there is a 10-year gap between Opens at a particular course. In my view, Muirfield is up there, it’s in my top three [courses].”
Muirfield last hosted The Open in 2013, when Phil Mickelson claimed the Claret Jug. While it was reinstated within the rotation eight years ago, golf’s oldest competition has not yet returned. If McIlroy’s comments from 2017 are considered, Northern Ireland’s finest would likely wish it never does.
Muirfield last hosted The Open in 2013(Image: Muirfield)
“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,” he declared eight years ago.
“They sort of saw sense, but I still think [the fact 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.”
To McIlroy’s assumed dismay, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon has clarified that conversations are underway regarding Muirfield hosting an Open, with the only roadblock being the course’s practice ground.
“We love the golf course at Muirfield,” admitted Darbon. “We’re in discussions with the venue right now. There are some things we need to evolve at Muirfield, the practice ground, in particular is a challenge for us with a modern Open. And there’s some work to facilitate some infrastructure we need, but there’s some good dialogue and we’d love to go back there in the future.”
It seems as though both McIlroy and Els do not see eye-to-eye regarding The Open’s seemingly inevitable return to Muirfield, and this is not the only time both have butted heads.
McIlroy was quick to deny he’ll ever play on the Champions Tour(Image: Getty)
Earlier this year, McIlroy was queried about when he’d hang up his clubs and responded starkly to a question about the Champions Tour, formerly the Senior PGA Tour. Asked whether he’d consider ever playing on said tour, McIlroy did not mince his words and exclaimed: “Absolutely not.
“I will not play Champions Tour golf. Look, I’ve said a lot of absolutes in my time that I’ve walked back, but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has gone terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50.”
Els didn’t seem to take kindly to such a cutting putdown, and he took to social media, penning: “Interesting to read Rory McIlroy’s comments today. At 35 years old I was also bullet proof saying things about not playing past 50. I’m 55 now and laughing at my comments from back then.
“The Champions Tour is so fulfilling with a great bunch of players we all grew up together from junior golf. Our sponsors and partners are wonderful companies and people. Competition is a powerful tool!”
