Will Augusta National finally be forced to invite a woman?
Masters adheres to traditions. But Billy Payne, club may have to change one. (Curtis Compton)
The mild winter ensures full blooms on the azaleas. Five different winners in the last five years eliminates any hint of predictability. Tiger Woods’ first tour win in 2½ years last week teases us into believing golf’s preeminent figure can return to dominance and provide some red-shirt drama on Sunday.
Welcome to the perfect backdrop for next week’s Masters, bliss for the Lords of Augusta National.
Well, except this: That women issue.
If it had never quite died, it at least had gone dormant, like Bermuda fairways. But the question of whether Augusta National will finally open the doors to female members — even if “at the point of a bayonet,” to reprise the charges of former chairman William “Hootie” Johnson – is bigger now than ever before. Even bigger than when Martha Burk first sent her little letter to Johnson nearly 10 years ago asking about the club’s exclusionary policies, sparking a very public and ugly debate, from break rooms to board rooms.
In January, IBM, which is one of the Masters’ major sponsors and runs the tournament’s website and the technology in the media center, named its new CEO: She’s a she.
Rometty's predecessors all were Augusta National members. (Bloomberg photo)
Virginia “Ginni” Rometty is the ninth CEO in the company’s history but the first female. The previous eight previous CEOs all were extended memberships by Augusta National. The three former CEOs still living remain members, as are the CEOs of the Masters’ other two major sponsors, AT&T and ExxonMobil.
“They’ve got themselves into a quandary, and deservedly so,” said Burk, who organized protests outside of Augusta National’s gates in 2003. She now aids women in corporations who believe they have been victims of sex discrimination. “They need to come into the 21st century. I said it nine years ago and I’ll say it now: They have a Neanderthal attitude, and that doesn’t reflect well on the club or the membership.”
Your move, Billy.
Steve Ethun, Augusta National spokesman, said the club and chairman Billy Payne would have “no comment
Burk doesn't think Billy Payne will respond different than Hootie Johnson. (AP)
or statement” on the situation, which has drawn media attention this week from Bloomberg, Yahoo, ESPN and the New York Times. The response is no surprise. The club generally doesn’t discuss membership policies or much beyond pin placement or the length of the rough.
If Payne is asked about it Wednesday during his annual state-of-the-sod-and-azalea address, his answer likely will be brief and unrevealing.
This is the true Masters’ tradition like no other: One man speaks for the club, and it’s his job to respond with an extended digit, albeit with a well-manicured nail.
My position on this hasn’t changed. Augusta National is a private club, so the club technically is correct when it states it has the right to exclude anybody it desires. But the Masters is the most public of events. It’s on public television. The relative great unwashed can purchase admission (even if tournament badges are difficult to come be).
These aren’t old guys wearing their “Loyal Order of Moose” hats, yukking it up and telling old stories about Jayne Mansfield. (Well, they might be, but that’s not the point.)
Johnson once likened Augusta National’s policies to “sororities, fraternities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts.” The flaw in that analogy: There’s no yin to Augusta’s and the Masters’ yang.
Payne has been progressive in many ways since taking over for Johnson in 2006. He has expanded television coverage, instituted a junior patron program, sanctioned a Masters video game, even developing an iPhone app with live video streams.
But there has been no movement on women members. Payne has never said “never,” but his actions now will reveal everything. He can’t leave the door open and then do nothing because, in the case of Rometty, it would be setting precedent.
Burk said Rometty (who has declined comment through a spokesman), “has the power in the company to exert influence if she so desires.”
But she’s not sure Payne really cares.
“I’m certain part of the deal when he became chairman was he would adhere to Hootie Johnson’s policies,” she said. “He’s no better or morally responsible than Johnson was.”
We’ll know soon enough. But it really makes no sense for Payne to put this off any longer. This much is certain: Even if the issue goes dormant, it’s never going away.
By Jeff Schultz
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266 comments Add your comment
Paul in NH
March 29th, 2012
4:39 pm
Wow – who knew that IBM being a sponsor of the Masters is critical to their business? Pity no-one told Steve Jobs that – all he did to make Apple 2x the market cap of IBM and about 4x as profitable was to develop better products.
Buzz
March 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
How come the LPGA can’t come up with their own big time golf tournament?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Hail Munson — Thanks for the comments. I know some folks like yourself support the issue but are anti-Martha Burk. I just felt her voice would add to the column, given the history. But thanks.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
Michael — That’s certainly the way it has been to this point.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
Marvin: Ginny Rometty plays a little bit of golf but scuba diving supposedly her sports passion.
dean
March 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
I’m thinking Danica Patrick gets the first female invite. Nascar to membership at Augusta. It’s a logical path.
iTiSi
March 29th, 2012
5:13 pm
It would not surprise me at all to see Gloria Albright show up at the Masters this year. She does have a tendency to butt in on matters like this, just to get her “mug” on TV.
79
March 29th, 2012
5:16 pm
yawn…..OTOH….Rometty might use her scuba skills to find Seve’s ball that he hit left and short into the pond at 15 in 1986……so she’s got that going for her..
iTiSi
March 29th, 2012
5:16 pm
Sorry, that should be “Allred” not Albright. Where in the world did I get “bright” from. That would almost be an oxymoron! That’s funny really,
Paul in NH
March 29th, 2012
5:23 pm
Doesn’t Gloria Allred include a number of Tiger’s ex-girlfriends among her clients?
A Father
March 29th, 2012
5:27 pm
Georgia football going up in flames:
If you write about women and golf need pictures of Paula Creamer and other hot looking women LPGA players. Otherwise no one cares — Back to Georgia football up in flames
Caveman
March 29th, 2012
5:45 pm
End life–threatening hunger in USA and world, create peace in the USA and world, eridicate severe poverty in USA and the world and ALLOW A WOMAN/FEMALE to JOIN AUGUSTA NATIONAL golf club. Okay, let me think awhile…………………………………………what is more important?!?!!!??????? Please wake-up people…………………..
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
5:54 pm
Paul in NH –”Doesn’t Gloria Allred include a number of Tiger’s ex-girlfriends among her clients?”
Don’t know about “a number” but I know she rep’d Rachel Uchitel (socialite, reported $10 million settlement) and Joslyn James (porn “star,” not sure if she ever got settlement)
Herschel Talker
March 29th, 2012
6:03 pm
Schultzie:
Who gives a *$&#&^ about this? Can you please slam Richt for more circus shenanigans in Athens and stop wasting time on this non-issue?
FIRE MARK RICHT!!!
HT
gtfanfrom1951
March 29th, 2012
6:10 pm
PC cops are at it again when will the liberal media get a real life or real story!
Fan
March 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
Some would call Public television, PBS.
This is commercial television.
Brian Washington
March 29th, 2012
6:26 pm
Just for the record: Over one-third of the groups in the National Council of Women’s Organizations…that Martha Burk was Chairman of…refuse to allow men to join.
Guess that righteous indignation only goes in one direction…
Gordon
March 29th, 2012
6:35 pm
You just don’t get it Jeff. There is no issue, except in Martha Burk’s mind and your mind. Augusta hasn’t gotten themselves into a quandry at all. 9 years ago they said they would invite a woman member when they were ready, and today they will invite a woman member when they are ready. And when she is invited, it will be because they want her as a member, not because they are worried people like Martha Burk or you don’t approve. Augusta National would (and has) dropped it sponsors to protect them from attacks from Martha Burk types who think they know what is best for a private club.
Gordon
March 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
I fondly remember Martha Burk’s protest from 9 years ago. She wanted to stage it near the club to be visible. It ended up being about 50 people (half of which were female students bussed in from an all women’s college) and an inflatable pig (representing Hootie Johnson) in a muddy field about 3 miles from the tournament. It was an utter and complete failure, and was hilarious to watch.
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March 29th, 2012
7:16 pm
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James
March 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
It’s a men’s club. I hope it will be and always will stay that way. Don’t cave Billy!
Members
March 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
I hope they let women in one day and ban Jeff Schultz from the media room–He is idiot no matter what sport he writes about–football, golf, you name it
GB
March 29th, 2012
7:56 pm
When private clubs are forced by government to do anything freedoms are diminished.
Swing for the Fence
March 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
Why is this a story. Private club. They make their own rules and the locker room has only one set of showers. The press room upstairs is male only too. Crummy TV though.
ed
March 29th, 2012
8:17 pm
burke is clueless, AN will/can do as they please.
Burke said at one time she could see the day when they would have to play the tournament at another course. ROTFLMAO
BobDawg
March 29th, 2012
8:35 pm
Schultzie, I was up at Pine Valley Golf Club during the “Crump Cup” (amateur tourney invite each year) and several members said this was about to hit Augusta when the news had hit about IBM and the new CEO. A lot of their members play at Augusta and vice versa in club competitions…. Talk about exclusive; try out Pine Valley sometime…..
Hypatia
March 29th, 2012
8:36 pm
Did I just wander into the 19th century or something? These sexist and misogynistic comments on this story are disgusting and the men who posted them should be ashamed of themselves.
duh
March 29th, 2012
8:38 pm
if you don’t want women griping about it, call it Augusta MEN’s club and not Augusta NATIONAL. Um, we are a nation of two different genders, you know . . . .
duh
March 29th, 2012
8:39 pm
actually, if you are insistent on women not joining, have the “balls” (pardon the pun) to call it Augusta Men’s club and then be done with it. Wusses.
BobDawg
March 29th, 2012
8:41 pm
I really thought Nancy Lopez would be the first female brought in, especially when she was married to Ray Knight… Seemed like a natural at the time….. My money is on Condaleeza Rice… she loves golf; former Bush crony and now a Stanford prof with a PHD….
Kevin
March 29th, 2012
8:41 pm
Like I always say…what’s the point in having a club if you can’t exclude people?
James
March 29th, 2012
8:42 pm
Augusta National should be ashamed. It is nothing more than blatant descrimination. How they could be allowed to carry on in this manner for this long is beyond me. I stand with the women on this issue and wonder what Augusta National would think of a boycott, or what would CBS advertisers think of a boycott for that matter. I think people other than women should stand up for the women and voice our concern to the authorities. And that’s how I feel about it.
tom bowden
March 29th, 2012
8:44 pm
Hey, Hypatia – aren;t you needed at an “Occupy” rally? Why the hell do you care about what goes on at Augusta National, or what REAL men think? (N
ot those Chardonnay swigging, brie chomping, purse wearing fruit loops you boss around,)
billy bob
March 29th, 2012
8:48 pm
When is the 100 Black Men’s Club going to invite a Caucasian?
billy bob
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Sick of the Liberal Ass Media! Amen, It’s a FREAKING PRIVATE CLUB!
Scotty
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’m with you James. I emailed Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow to give them the heads up that this would be a good topic for this week. I think it would be good for a national discussion. Hello, this is a democracy last I checked.
joe in tucker
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
blah blah blah – it’s a private club; blah blah blah – go start your own club; blah blah blah – get a life outside of whining for a living…
Jockich Ahn Smelley II
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’m a guy….these morons are in the early-1900’s…..when are women going to get wise ehhhh ticked off and stage a boycott……this is pitiful…..these Stepford wives married to these morons should get some “Kahunas” and cut them off…however we all know, wink-wink these geezers are getting it on the side anyway with their secretaries…..”that boy has gotten more putang than anyone I know”
JDW
March 29th, 2012
8:50 pm
Funny no one has thought to ask the most pertinent question of all…Does the woman even play golf?
This is a golf club folks nothing to do there but play. Kind of pointless to join if you don’t play, play well and are avid about playing.
Bob Storm
March 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
Exclusion is gay – kinda like golf. What a bunch of douchebags.
Timmer
March 29th, 2012
8:52 pm
I agree – golf is gay
Carl Spackler
March 29th, 2012
8:55 pm
BobDawg…..Had the chance to play Pine Valley and Merion several years ago, Great, Great courses. I have had the good fortune of playing Augusta National on numerous occassions.
bamaguy
March 29th, 2012
8:56 pm
It’s like a bunch of little pouty boys who won’t let a girl in the treehouse. Just invite a woman to join. It’s 2012. (I second the Condaleeza nomination).
Jay
March 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
I think women should be allowed in. Ironically, my parents are coming to Atlanta from Charleston to visit this week. They will drive right through Augusta. My dad has been to a couple of Masters Tournaments and he thinks the Masters is a gift from God. Good lord, he loves that golf tournament. He says it is the best. But guess what, I am going to hit him with this questions as soon as they come in Saturday. I really want to see how he will answer it, especially in from of my mother. I remember once when he took Wednesday afternoons to play golf with men from the office and my mom was irritated and said that she’d like to go down to that office on a Wednesday and see how many women got to leave at lunch and go play golf. She said she knew the answer to that and the women would be at work. I really think I will pose this most interesting question when he arrives.
tom bowden
March 29th, 2012
9:02 pm
Hey, bamaguy – it’s OUR freakin’ tree house – we brought the hammer, nails and boards; we get to decide who climbs in. If you don’t like it, go start your own club with James and Scotty (y’all can fight over who gets to play with the skip rope first).
PatDowns
March 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
What all you gleeful pundits either don’t get or fail to acknowledge…Rometty got to where she is by playing by the rules – and succeeding – in an overwhelmingly man’s world. She and Augusta National will work something out.
Carl Spackler
March 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
Amen Tom! All you little sissy’s go jump rope and suck on your pascifier!
Old Farmer
March 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Sure the Master’s membership can refuse to extend membership to women since it’s a private club. But I hope those big boys won’t whine and pitch fits if they lose money over it.
Once you go down the road of seeking large corporate sponsors, you are no longer just a little private club in Augusta, Ga.
bamaguy
March 29th, 2012
9:10 pm
Excluding women makes you feel like more of a man? Interesting.
BobDawg
March 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
CARL, you are a lucky man…. I got to play Pine Valley right after 9/11 when they offered rounds for $1000 each to go towards the NY Fireman and Cops…. Totally worth it and I used to go on the roller coaster in Clementon when I was a kid just around the corner….