PGA Tour succumbs to the gender bigotry of the Augusta National
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has apparently succumbed to Augusta National’s discriminatory policy of keeping the female golfers off-course and declared that while the club’s policy appears to be biased, Tour can hardly afford to lose the precious venue
for the coveted Masters Championship.
Augusta National’s membership bar for the women golfers again hit the headlines earlier this year when the Masters returned to the historic course and the club’s chairman Billy Payne refused to review or comment on the controversial membership policy of
the club.
Payne said that the membership rules are set by the governing members of the board and are not discussed publicly.
Finchem, while admitted that the tour follows the policy of level-playing field for both male and female golfers, insisted that the club has the right to uphold the rule under the constitution.
He said, “We have a policy that says that when we go out and do a co-sanctioned event, we are going to play it at a club that is as open to women members, open to minority members, etc., and we follow that policy carefully. In the case of the Masters, we
have concluded a number of times now, and we have certainly not moved off of this; that we are not going to give up the Masters as a tournament on our TOUR. It’s too important.They are not doing anything illegal”.
This year’s winner of the coveted title, Bubba Watson also spoke against the discriminatory policy and United States President Barack Obama also criticised the policy of the club.
The Masters remains a co-sanctioned event on the tour calendar of the PGA and marks one of the most revered titles in the sports.
Finchem also admitted that the event is important for the Tour’s Money List and the overall betterment of the sport in the longer run.
The membership policy of the Augusta National is a jagged little pill which needs to be swallowed for the greater good of the game.
He also admitted that many of the tour members as well as the general public have reservations about club’s vindictive policy but there is little the tour can do to change the rules.
Augusta National, on the likes of Royal & Ancient in England, continues to uphold its more than 100-year-old policy of extending membership to the male golfers and has refused to alter the policy despite scathing criticism.
Tags: