Taking on Augusta

DORIAN, Quebec -- Despite the recent controversy, it looks as if Rae's Creek will freeze before Augusta National invites a woman to be a member. Amazingly, the national golf debate of the summer has not yet struck a nerve on the LPGA Tour.

Earlier this year, Karrie Webb was privileged enough to drive down more than just Magnolia Drive. Afterward, the Aussie raved about playing such an exclusive course.

THE SHAG BAG With her win at the Bank of Montreal Canadian Women's Open, Meg Mallon jumped from 13th to sixth on the Solheim Cup points list, which is probably a big relief for the team captain. "I wanted to make Patty Sheehan's job a lot easier and make the team, rather than put her in the position of having to pick me, because I didn't want to rely on that," said Mallon, who now has 14 career victories. "But all year my game has been there. It's just that it has not fallen into place for me." ... Despite finishing second over the weekend, don't be surprised if Catriona Matthew is left off the European Solheim Cup team. Captain Dale Reid will make her five wild-card selections next Sunday following the Betsy King Classic and the WLPGA Championship in Europe. Reid has a tough task with many good players battling for limited spots. Currently needing an invite are Laura Davies, Janice Moodie, Helen Alfredsson, Carin Koch, Liselotte Neumann and Mhairi McKay. "I still have some hope," said Matthew, who led after three rounds in Quebec. "I'm trying to give her something to think about." ... Some complained because Annika Sorenstam didn't defend her title last week, but the Swede had good reason for playing in the Compaq Open in her native Sweden. To qualify for the Solheim Cup she had to play six European events over two years, and this was No. 6. She won the tournament at 17 under, four strokes in front of Sophie Gustafson. ... Congratulations to Lorena Ochoa, Christina Kim and Miriam Nagle, who finished 1-2-3 on the Futures Tour money list and earned exempt cards for the 2003 LPGA season. ... Sue Ginter-Booker stood fourth on that list before the weekend but had no chance to move up because she played in Canada. Everything turned out for the best: She finished tied for eighth, earning $26,900 and moving close to the top 90 on the LPGA money list. ... Congratulations also to Connie Masterson and Michael Ross, who tied the knot last week in St. Joseph, Mich. ... I blasted the tournament last year, but this time around the hospitality in Canada had returned to the old days, making the event the top contender for Most Improved in my end-of-season awards.

"I played the back nine through Amen Corner and got goose bumps. There is so much history," Webb said. "I felt really lucky to get such a chance."

When asked about the fact that Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson and the boys don't allow women to be fitted for green jackets, Webb handled the question like a slippery 20-foot downhill putt on one of the National's bikini-waxed greens.

"Actually, a lot of women were playing," Webb said about the day she visited "There was a foursome of women in front of us. I was surprised at how many women were actually out there playing."

Unfortunately, that was not the question.

Last Wednesday at the Bank of Montreal Canadian Women's Open, I asked LPGA Tour commissioner Ty Votaw if he had an opinion on the lack of female members at Augusta National. He quickly deferred to a politically correct one-paragraph press release:

"The LPGA respects the right of private organizations to determine their own membership policies. We also believe that Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters tournament have done many things that have contributed greatly to the advancement of the game of golf. Having said that, it should come as no surprise that it would be our hope that women might someday be invited to become members of Augusta National Golf Club in accordance with policies determined by the leadership of its members."

The next day, I once again challenged Votaw about his stance on this position: "How can the commissioner of the oldest and most successful women's sports organization tolerate a club not having women members?"

"It says we have hope that will change," said Votaw

When I pointed out that he has attended the Masters the past couple of years, Votaw quickly pointed out that he pays for tickets. While I have a hard time believing that, it actually strengthens my point.

"How can the commissioner of the oldest women's sports organization support and patronize an event that doesn't have women members?" I asked

"Would you like to be the first woman?" Votaw said in defense. "And who do you think should be the first woman?"

I replied: "How about one of the women on the LPGA's board of directors?"

Hall of Famer JoAnne Carner once told me that golf legend Judy Bell was rumored to be a candidate a couple of years ago. "I heard that when she was president of the USGA she was going to be invited," Carner said. "And then it never materialized."

Carner said it doesn't bother her that Augusta National doesn't have women members. She does think that it eventually will happen, but as Johnson said, "We will not be threatened or intimidated." Augusta National will open its doors when it damn well pleases.

"One day there will be a woman member, but that will only happen on their own terms," Carner said. "The more they are pushed, the more they are going to resist."

There is one person who could probably pressure Augusta National into changing its policy. His name is Tiger Woods. After first avoiding the issue, the No. 1 player in the world and three-time Masters champion recently stated that he would like to see women invited.

But two weeks ago at the Buick Open, I suggested to Woods that if he felt so strongly, why not boycott next year's Masters unless Augusta National made concessions?

"Would everyone else follow?" Woods asked. "And if they don't and I do, they'll be playing without a defending champion."

While Woods is probably right -- and it's not fair to turn him into a politician -- the threat of his skipping the event would definitely make a statement and mostly like scare Johnson enough to do something.

No doubt the boys at Augusta would just laugh if a few LPGA players stood up and complained. Which is probably why the players have been so close-mouthed on the subject. Then again, what would it hurt to take a stance for women everywhere?

Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section, is a longtime caddie on the LPGA Tour. Click here to send him a question or comment.

 

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