R&A Presser Primer: "Peter Dawson would be advised to bring a tin hat"

Euan McLean, writing for the Daily Record, says "it will be a game of cat and mouse as [Peter]Dawson tries to defend the indefensible" during Wednesday's and prepares us with the stock answers Chief Inspector Executive Dawson will give to defend the R&A's stance on membership.

What's interesting in this piece--headlined in print "R&A have to lead way with a sex change"--is McLean's focus on the R&A instead of the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. And just a reminder, the R&A is a separate entity from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Got that?

Ewan Murray says there is hypocrisy from all angles in the membership debate, while appearing to put down yesterday's Telegraph report that a change in club secretary will change things at Muirfield.

There is hypocrisy, too, from those in the media who dish out routine kickings to male-only clubs such as Muirfield or Troon yet appear there at the drop of a hat if a game is on offer. Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, meanwhile defends the hosting of the Open at such clubs by pointing to the legality of Muirfield's membership criteria. That is a dubious argument; something needn't be illegal to be immoral and archaic.

On another traditional R&A press conference topic, Eamon Lynch explains why a Royal Portrush-hosted Open Championship has no chance of happening in the playing lifetimes of Mssrs. McIlroy and McDowell: riot season.