First woman captain of The R&A drives in at St Andrews

In her new role - she succeeds Dennis Watson - Dowling, a former Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup player, will serve as an ambassador for the club and The R&A.

“To begin my year as captain here in St Andrews, surrounded by friends and fellow Members, is a very special moment,” said the Irish woman.

“It is a huge privilege to serve as captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and I am honoured to be the first woman to take on the role. The club has such a remarkable history and tradition but it is continuing to evolve which is so important for any institution.

“I am really looking forward to representing the club and to everything the year ahead will bring. I'm also excited to be supporting The R&A as it continues its important work to develop and promote golf around the world while celebrating everything that makes our sport so special.”

One of Dowling’s Curtis Cup appearances was in the side that secured a first GB&I victory over the USA on American soil, winning 13-5 at Prairie Dunes in 1986.

She won five Irish Championships, the first in 1983, as well as the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987.

After a successful playing career, Dowling captained the GB&I Curtis Cup team in its narrow 10-8 defeat to the USA at Ganton in 2000. She was among the first women to become members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015 and has served on several committees.

Caddie Dillon McCarron successfully returned the ball to Dowling after she’d driven in. “It’s pretty cool to collect the ball,” said the 30-year-old, who is from Nova Scotia in Canada.

“With Claire being the first female captain, it’s quite an honour. I didn’t really know where the ball was going to go but it came over my buddy’s head and then came right to me.

“This is my second season caddying here, so I learned about this tradition last year. I was excited to come down this morning and I didn’t think there would be much chance of winning with there being so many caddies, so it’s quite the honour for sure.”