Scotland's Paul Lawrie last night joined in the chorus of condemnation over Muirfield's decision to continue to refuse women members.

The decision, following a ballot of members, saw the East Lothian club instantly removed from the Open rota.

A two-thirds majority was required to alter the club's constitution but only 64 per cent voted in favour and 36 per cent against yesterday.

Lawrie, who won the Open at Carnoustie in 1999, believes Muirfield's view are outdated.

"The R&A are right to do what they've done," he said.

"How can you not let ladies be a member of a golf club? It just doesn't make any sense. Imagine not being able to take your wife into the golf club. It's just not right."

Six-time major champion Nick Faldo added: "While I accept that private clubs have the right to create their own policies, I fully support the R &A and Martin Slumbers' many forward thinking initiatives toward inclusiveness and growing the game of golf around the world."

Catriona Matthew, who won the Women's Open in 2009 at Royal Lytham and lives only a few miles from Muirfield in North Berwick, tweeted: "Embarrassed to be a Scottish women golfer from East Lothian after that decision."

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington also backed the decision to remove Muirfield from the Open rota.

He said: "The R&A have done the right thing for the bigger picture," Harrington said.

"They lead golf on a world stage and they have a responsibility to general society not to condone it or to drift along as if it's not happening.

"Muirfield may go ahead and say we want just be a small golf club and mind their own business and that's fine, but minding their own business isn't holding the Open is it?"

A letter leaked to a newspaper this week suggested Muirfield members were concerned about women players feeling "uncomfortable", as well as their speed of play.

"Generally ladies play a lot faster than men," Harrington said. "Every lady I've ever seen on the golf course seems to want to rush around, they are so anxious about that end of things.

"There is no reason why it can't work and in this day and age, who would want to be in a golf club with only men?"

Meanwhile, Masters champion Danny Willett leads Rory McIlroy by two shots after the first round of the Irish Open.

Willett fired eight birdies and a bogey in a seven-par-under 65 at the K Club.

McIlroy posted a 67 as he bids to improve his recent poor form at his home tournament, which has seen him miss three straight cuts at the event.

England's Callum Shinkwin and Jaco Van Zyl lie a shot behind McIlroy, with ex-champions Soren Kjeldsen, and Ross Fisher and, Martin Kaymer three under.