Sorenstam and Davies among Honorary Members of the R&A

Dame Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and the Princess Royal are among seven women chosen to take up honorary membership of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

Swedish great Annika Sorenstam

Last September, the club voted to end its male-only membership policy after 260 years, with almost 85 per cent of the 2,400 club members who took part in the ballot voting in favour of changing the membership criteria.

Renee Powell, a 68-year-old African-American who was the first woman to be a head professional at a UK golf course, Scotland's prolific amateur Belle Robertson, who played on seven Curtis Cup teams, French golfing great Lally Segard and 91-year-old American Louise Suggs, the co-founder and former president of the LPGA, are the other new honorary members.

George Macgregor OBE, captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said, “It is an honour and a privilege for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club to welcome these remarkable women as honorary members.

"The Princess Royal enjoys a strong bond with Scotland and has shown great energy and commitment to developing sport through her work in the Olympic movement.

"This is an historic day for the club and we could not be more proud also to welcome women who have distinguished themselves in golf over many years and have been great players and champions.

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