Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies among first 7 women admitted as R&A honorary members

Annika Sorenstam and Dame Laura Davies are among the first seven women to join the formerly all-male R&A.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews voted in September to admit women members, ending a 260-year-old rule excluding all but the old boys to one of the largest, most prestigious golf clubs in the world. In addition to World Golf Hall of Famer Sorenstam and incoming HoF’er Davies, from Sweden and England, respectively, the R&A will also welcome Princess Anne, LPGA co-founder Louise Suggs of Britain, LPGA pioneer Renee Powell, amateur Belle Robertson of Scotland, and French golfer Lally Segard.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson made the announcement Tuesday.

“This is an historic day for the club,” Dawson said, according to Bernie McGuire. “The reaction I have received from some of the seven ladies is that they are absolutely thrilled to be asked and very quick to say ‘yes,’ as no one turned down the invitation.”

Admitted as “honorary” members, the women will go through what Dawson said was the same process men must to move from the honorary to “ordinary” category.

In the meantime, the women “can visit the club whenever they wish,” Dawson said, “as they will now be a part of the club’s spring and autumn golf meetings, while they may choose to come to the Open Championship later this year.”

Princess Anne is the fourth member of the Royal Family to become an honorary R&A member, a category usually set aside for golfers no longer competing, according to McGuire. Four-time major champion Davies, who will be inducted to the Hall of Fame this year, still plays on the Ladies European Tour.

Suggs is one of the women instrumental in the establishment of the LPGA’s Founders Cup, a regular event on the tour’s annual schedule. Powell, currently head golf pro at Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio, was the second African-American to play on the LPGA.