LPGA Mike Whan claims Augusta National is guilty over its biased membership rules
Augusta National’s gender bias is taking a beating from almost all walks of life and LPGA commissioner Mike Whan has now taken a new dig over the discriminatory policy, advocating an LPGA event on the sprawling course.
Venue of the coveted Masters Championship for almost 100 years, Augusta National boosts of a reputation of being a world class golf club with some spectacular fairways and greens, unmatched anywhere else in the world.
The club bars women membership and has stuck to its policy since the beginning.
Augusta National’s creator Bobby Jones is said to be the brain behind the policy which has successfully kept the women golfers off-course despite of being a victim of scathing criticism in recent times.
Whan, while addressing a press conference, reportedly dismissed the idea of a policy alteration of the club in order to allow female membership, but at the same time, hoped that the club would extend a permission to hold an LPGA event on the course in near
future.
He said, “As the commissioner of the LPGA, I think Augusta should have a women’s tournament. I don’t care if they have female members”.
Whan, who has been the tour commissioner for a considerable period of time, has developed the tour in an unprecedented way and holds a highly respectable position among the female golfers all over the world.
While narrating his wish for an LPGA event on the revered course, Whan also took a jibe at the club’s hefty donations towards the tour, claiming that the six-figure cheque has probably more to do with the Club’s guilty conscience.
He added, “It’s worth noting that Augusta National is an incredible supporter of some of our initiatives. They write us a six-figure check every year for Girls Golf, which helps get girls into the sport. I don’t think it’s a guilt check. Maybe it is. What’s
frustrating is that the best players now on our tour can’t play there. I ask every year”.
Augusta’s bigotry against female golfers took a new turn at this year’s Masters when the club chairman Billy Payne was showered with tough questions ahead of the first major event of the year.
Payne successfully avoided the questions saying that the membership rules are strictly club’s private issue and are not open to public discussion.
As per the constitution of the United States, Augusta National is allowed to enact its own membership rules and cannot be questioned in the court of law.
This year’s Masters winner, Bubba Watson has also criticised the club’s policy to bar women from playing on the course, adding to the vows of Augusta National.
President Obama also reportedly criticised Augusta's objectionable policy and has spoken against the rule which bars female golfers to tee a round on the coveted course.
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