One of the first female members at Muirfield plays as marker

Lindsey Garden made history on Saturday when she became the first female member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to tee it up in the AIG Women’s British Open. Keep in mind that the club dates back to 1744 and welcomed its first group of female members in 2019.

This marks the first Women’s British Open ever held at the iconic Muirfield. There have been 16 men’s British Opens staged at Muirfield, dating back to 1892.

With an odd number of players making the cut, Garden got the call to tee off as a marker at 10 a.m. local time alongside Lydia Hall of Wales. Garden plays off a handicap index of 1.6.

“I played okay,” said Garden. “I didn’t embarrass myself off the first tee, almost got on the green at the first, so three-putted as usual but no, it was good. I struck the ball nicely. Putting could have been better.”

Garden grew up in Tain and represented Scotland on a number of occasions as a top-level amateur.  She also spent time caddying on the DP World Tour.

“It’s fantastic,” said Garden when asked about her historic membership.

“So I’ve been a member a year, and it’s just been a great year because since I’ve been a member with knowing we’re hosting the AIG Women’s Open and it’s been lots of prep for that. And there’s been some really fun stuff around that media days and just some interviews with various media people talking about what is it like to be a woman member at Muirfield, it’s the same as it is for a man. We’re equal.”