Woods and McIlroy: "We Are Honorary Members of St Andrews"

Tiger Woods (left) and Rory McIlroy are playing together at the celebration gathering of past male and female major champions of The Open. St Andrews (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The "returned golf emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) have become honorary members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A St Andrews Golf Club) in the UK.

On the 14th (Korean time), a day before the opening of the 150th Open Championship, R&A St Andrews Golf Club announced, "We have accepted three new honorary members: Woods, McIlroy, and Paul Lawrie (Scotland)." They explained, "These three have greatly contributed to golf and inspired countless people worldwide to take up and enjoy the sport of golf," adding, "They are not only great champions but also have played a role in popularizing golf, especially encouraging young people to enjoy the game."

Woods has won the Open Championship three times. McIlroy was the champion in 2015, and Lawrie in 1999. St Andrews, founded in 1754, is the oldest golf club in the world. It has about 2,400 members, and only those invited by R&A St Andrews Golf Club can become members. Until 2014, only men could be members, but women have been accepted since 2015. The Old Course at R&A St Andrews Golf Club is called the "birthplace of golf."