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
rivercard
March 29th, 2012
11:12 pm
Amen Amanda.
Dragon- would you call an all womens college or Junior League “full of Morons” ?
Ken Stallings
March 29th, 2012
11:34 pm
Jeff,
Drop your political ax a moment and ponder this one question?
Are women routinely denied opportunities to play golf? Are they denied by matter of course the chance for playing golf on scholarship in Div-1A?
Given that the clear and true answer to both questions is a resounding, “No,” then why re-hash what was a hollow issue and give the hollow agendist her stage once again to find Augusta National guilty without being charged with any crime?
Flounder
March 29th, 2012
11:52 pm
Prediction:: Rometty will be extended a Membership Invitation, and she will turn it down.
JSS
March 30th, 2012
12:44 am
Man, that 21st century just jets over this region everyday! Must have been like what it was like when the socialist TVA ran the first electric wire out to the one room wood shack in Chattooga County… Gee, will the wonders never cease! Dangum!
elle
March 30th, 2012
1:07 am
I realize your Todd Grantham article came at a bad time and now there isn’t anything more you can say about the UGA Bulldogs so you turn to Golf but this is a stupid article Jeff.
computerchik
March 30th, 2012
2:07 am
Augusta native & Masters patron here. I’m a female and I have always been 100% fine with the club membership policy. Martha Burke needs to shut her mouth and go back to helping victims of discrimination. The year she staged her “big” protest, The Masters decided to run the tournament without sponsors. I think 9 people showed up for her protest, if I remember correctly. As another poster said, I’m sure the nice lady from IBM will understand and not male a fuss; otherwise, she’s not likely to be CEO for long.
computerchik
March 30th, 2012
2:16 am
Um, that should be MAKE a fuss. Thx, autocorrect, for that gem.
juice sourcer
March 30th, 2012
6:58 am
Thank you Billy Payne for extending TV coverage. Nothing pissed me off more than watching reruns of previous Masters moments while the live action was going on with the leaders on the course in the final round and we could not watch. It was the most absurd policy that the “Neanderthal” Hootie refused to change. As far as the other traditions…keep them..like a buck for a pimento cheese sandwich and no women members.
Jimmy Crack
March 30th, 2012
6:59 am
Once again….
G-entlemen
O-nly
L-adies
F-orgettaboutit!
BTW, when is N.O.W. going to let women join?
Paul in NH
March 30th, 2012
7:33 am
NOW (the National Organization For Women) has had men and women members since its founding.
Bobby Jones
March 30th, 2012
8:05 am
To Mark…Augusta National was there long before Tiger Woods was there. Augusta National will be there long after Tiger Woods is gone. Let Tiger protest. It simply does not matter! One person or sponsor is not bigger than the Holy Grail! People love the “Masters” and Augusta National far more than Eldrick ‘Tiger” Woods. Sorry to burst your bubble.
maddog
March 30th, 2012
8:10 am
The Loyal Order of the Moose openly welcomes women and spends millions of dollars yearly to benefit underpriveleged children. I believe Mr Schultz should pick another target for his ridicule.
Lacker
March 30th, 2012
8:14 am
Why no article on uga’s suspensions. Looking at 4 defensive starters out at least 2 games and you only write praise for the coaching. They are also mentors. Amazing how you guys bury your heads in the sand on uga’s discipline problems. And were only in March. There’s still 5 months before the season starts. 100% guaranteed another player or 3 will get booted or suspended by Sept.
Matt
March 30th, 2012
8:16 am
Why would anyone want to be a part of something where they are not wanted???? Chicks in fraternities??? Why??? Don’t they have sororities for that???
Jay
March 30th, 2012
8:17 am
Have women played on the mens pga tour? Yep. Have any men played on the womens? Nope. So stfu scultz and quit writing this left wing garbage.
David
March 30th, 2012
8:20 am
A tradition like none other, The Masters
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
8:23 am
Jeff is just part of the ” LIBERAL LEFT” . Try another topic and stick to writing about sports and quit being a politician.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
8:24 am
I see nothing wrong with a bunch of men wanting a place to get away from their old lady!!!
kaput
March 30th, 2012
8:28 am
I hope they make a big stink about it, and then we end up with The Masters completely commercial free. Have at it, ladies!!
observer
March 30th, 2012
8:30 am
Augusta National doesn’t need female members. They also don’t need TV “sponsors, so jusy who is going to “force” them to admit women?
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
8:30 am
When the sponsors get asked about this there responce is always ” We’re sponsors of the Masters not Augusta National”. Augusta National Golf Club is seperate from the Masters in the eyes of the members and the sponsors and at the end of the day that’s all that matters to them.
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
8:32 am
Amen kaput! Bill and Warren could fund it out of their pockets.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
8:35 am
I hope they make a big stink about it, and then we end up with The Masters completely commercial free. Have at it, ladies!!
LOL… I think maybe I’ll find some proactive ladies that would be interested in this issue and push them into joining the protest!!!! I loved the Masters when it was commercial free!!!
A Father
March 30th, 2012
8:39 am
Schultz:
We need a very hard hitting article about the CHAOS in Ga football and the Athletic Dept. One which demands responses and explanations from Michael Adams, Greg Mcgarity, Mark Richt, GA Board Members, Professors on the board, etc etc. I find it hard to believe that Atlanta is a top market in the U.S. and not one sports writer has the balls to step up for years now. Demand the response from the three Board of Regents on how they are involved with the terrible image and discipline taking place at the flagship University in the State of Georgia. We know that chip towers is weak at best and his articles are poorly written and thought out.
Someone Please: Step up at AJC and write a hard hitting article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reid in EAV
March 30th, 2012
8:47 am
Had no one in the media brought attention to this, and had Martha Burk not opened her big mouth, I bet that Augusta National would have quietly examined the precedent with IBM and determined that this was a good time to ease into an unforced change. Instead, the usual busybodies crowing have all but ensured that it won’t happen. (I’d be very surprised to be wrong.) Way to go, guys.
Disgusted
March 30th, 2012
8:51 am
Hope not, leave the old boys from Augusta alone.
And send these uppity broads back to the kitchen to fetch me a beer like they were born to do.
Augusta National is fine, no need for change.
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
9:00 am
If I am the IBM CEO, I’ll give Augusta National a make-or-break warning. IBM doesn’t need Augusta National. There are tons of ways to advertise yourself than die in a bunch of Azelea.
IBM has $100 billion in revenue with 64 percent from overseas, which means only a third of its revenue is from the US.
You go overseas and ask who care about Augusta National, or even heard of Augusta National?
JSS
March 30th, 2012
9:02 am
Nasty Pimento Cheese sandwiches…
Gator Mike
March 30th, 2012
9:04 am
The ###l with Burke. It is a privat club. If there were a private woman’s club which would not admit men, who would complain? Nobody! If it were an afro-american club only would anyone listen to a white guy complaining? No! I hope the good old boys at Augusta stand firm.
Highlands
March 30th, 2012
9:06 am
If there truly is a “War on Women”, I nominate Martha Burk for an air strike.
Amen corner
March 30th, 2012
9:07 am
No.
moo
March 30th, 2012
9:11 am
Mrs. Rommetty’s future success or failure will rest on the success or failure of IBM and not on the membership rules of a private club. Augusta National will be the last thing on her mind, and if not, I’m sure the BOD will find a suiteable replacement. I’m surprised you wasted valuable sports page space with this nonsense.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
9:13 am
Sorry JEFF we were just making Jokes last night. Not sure Why giving names of possible members was bad but OK.
don’t understand wanting to be a member of a club that doesn’t want you.
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
9:14 am
Alphare…Wrong! Augusta National does not need IBM!!!
Highlands
March 30th, 2012
9:14 am
Oh, and Jeff: CBS and ESPN are not “public television”. They are both for-proft subsidaries of larger entities (Viacom and Disney, respectively). If you want to insert your dumb liberal politics into the newspaper, go join you lardo colleague Jim Galloway in a section other than sports.
A Father
March 30th, 2012
9:16 am
Speaking of replacements: UGA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT lacks total leadership and direction. Step up Schultz, make it happen, you can do it!!
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
9:17 am
Martha Burke —– I wouldn’t mess with him.
Mark
March 30th, 2012
9:19 am
To Bobby Jones: Augusta National may be there long after Tiger Woods, but it is, whether it likes it or not, an international symbol of discrimination against women. So when you take that stand, you’re saying discrimination should also be there forever. Yes, it’s a private club, but it gives golf, Georgia, and the US a black eye with its antiquated policy, just like it did when it excluded blacks. By virtue of hosting the Masters it wants to stand for something bigger, and so it should. And so should Tiger Woods; if he has the guts he should call Payne and tell the club either change the policy or he’ll never play there again. Watch how fast they drop that policy, and watch what the other players do if the club doesn’t change.
Tacusa
March 30th, 2012
9:20 am
I am glad that the Master’s stands firm against the bullying from the left. I wish more people would do it. And I’m sure Ms. Rometty can show Martha Burk a thing or two about how to be a REAL successful woman in the United States.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
9:21 am
You go overseas and ask who care about Augusta National, or even heard of Augusta National?
First of all according to IBM and most of the other sponsors of the Masters say they are sponsors of the Masters not of Augusta National golf club. Also Golf is a very popular sport worldwide… everyone who has watched or played Golf in Europe, Asia, and Australia has heard of the Masters. It’s the most popular and well known Golf Tournament in the World!!!
Intelligent Masters Coverage | Lanny H Golf
March 30th, 2012
9:26 am
[...] on Augusta. Looks like his focus has already shifted to golf with today’s piece, “Will Augusta National finally be forced to invite a woman?“ What I like about Jeff is that he is a year-round resident of the area and, stealing a [...]
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
9:26 am
Ghost from the past,
“Alphare…Wrong! Augusta National does not need IBM!!!”
You sound like Rush Limbaugh saying he doesn’t need those deserting advertisers after apologizing.
Big Blue is a $240billion company with international fame, how big is Augusta National? a small fraction of a percentage of IBM?
Bobby Jones
March 30th, 2012
9:28 am
Mark…I know more about that club than you can ever dream about…believe me, they could care less what Tiger’s stance is! Especially after what he did.
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
9:40 am
CrαZy,
before Tiger Woods, golf on TV is a niche market. Even now without Tiger, the rating is still low. Master drew a very high rating of 12% a couple of years ago when Tiger was on track.
TV rating usually drops by 50% without Tiger.
A few days ago, Jeremy Lin of NY Knicks draw a 7.3%. I don’t have the number, I believe before Tiger, Master might have ratings of that NY Knicks game or lower.
PoliticalCorrectnessBS
March 30th, 2012
9:43 am
1970’s Boys posted no girls allowed signs on their tree house clubs.
2000’s Boy post’s no girls allowed sign and Dad beats him sinceless and forces him to find at least 1 girl to invite to their club!!!
mike
March 30th, 2012
9:46 am
Yeah we got to keep those women in their place. Dealing with abortions, birth contol and womens rights we have enough on our plate as is. Heck we gave them the right to vote and to make almost the same money a man makes. What else do they want. They just need to keep voting into office people who do not have their best interests at heart.
JASon
March 30th, 2012
9:47 am
If she’s allowed to go to the Masters, won’t that take away from her time in the kitchen
dave
March 30th, 2012
9:48 am
Not suprising that most of the anti women at Augusta comments come from men. Of course if it were their daugthers who were being kept out of a school or a job or even a country club it would be a different matter. Or would it? Barefoot and pregant-right fellas.
As to the private club part of the arguement-while it is a private club they do have a liquor license which is not a private thing. They must have a public license to sell food in the clubhouse or on the course. They use police for security (I’m sue they pay for it). The Masters is broadcast on the public airways. Now if Augusta National wants to run an event where there isn’t any food or booze and nobody but the people there can see it-then you can talk about “PRIVATE”
TBone
March 30th, 2012
9:52 am
Why not just get ahead of the curve and invite a female preferred transgender bathing suit model and be done with it.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
9:53 am
Alphare…. You keep saying IBM and Augusta National together like they sponsor Augusta National, but they don’t. Back in 2003 or 2004 when all the Martha Burk stuff was going on they said “They are a sponsor of the Masters Golf Tournament not of Augusta National Golf Club”. I understand they are really the same thing, but if that is their stance still, then they obviously don’t care too much about this issue and really I can understand why I don’t see anything wrong with a all men’s or women’s group/club.