Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN)–There is little left for early breakthroughs in Muirfield, home of the golf club founded in the mid-1800s.
However, following hosting 16 men’s British Opens over 130 years, the women’s tournament kicks off at the legendary Scotland Stadium for the first time, Thursday.
It was a long wait that looked set to extend into May 2016, when members of the privately owned club The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers voted once morest repealing its mens-only membership policy.
The club was founded in 1744 in Leith, Edinburgh, and moved to the site of East Lothian in 1891.
The result of this vote was described as “scandal” by four-time champion Rory McIlroy and “indefensible” by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the organizers of the World Open.
The stadium was immediately banned from hosting women.
In March of the following year, Muirfield was reinstated as the site of the Open Championship following the club voted 80.2% in favor of admitting female members, achieving the two-thirds majority needed to annul the 2016 vote.
It will be a special kind of excitement for Scottish golfer Catriona Matthew, who will go down in history as the first woman to launch at the Women’s Open at Muirfield, with the opportunity to experience a major tournament just a short drive from home.
“It’s an honor to be asked to do something like this,” Matthew told reporters on Tuesday.
The 52-year-old admitted she was “disappointed” with the initial vote to keep the male membership only, but believes that rolling back the decision showed some progress.
The historic Open in Muirfield marks a continuation of a historic week for women’s sport, following England won their first women’s grand slam on Sunday.
And with her second big win at the Evian Championships in July, Brooke Henderson racked up two wins in just over a month.
The 24-year-old Canadian has never finished lower than 16th in any of her previous five events.
“It’s really fun to be a part of women’s golf, because it’s growing so much and we feel like we’re making a difference for future generations,” she explained.
After a three-month hiatus since March due to a blood clot, world number three Nelly Korda is enjoying every second of her return to the tour.
“I was so excited to be participating in this event this year,” she said.
“I’m familiar with the history, and the fact that we’re going to be the first women’s championship here as well, it’s very cool.”