Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, where the PGA Tour comes for The Masters, does not admit women. The National Council of Women's Organizations is appalled that a private club would stand on its constitutional right to enjoy freedom of association.
Augusta is the only male-only club that hosts major U.S. golf tournaments. In these latter days of inclusion, there must be matters more important than individual rights. In this, the women are convicted.
But knowing that it had hit a brick wall in Augusta, namely Chairman Hootie Johnson, NCWO was eyeing sponsors of the golf tournament – IBM, Citigroup and Coca-Cola – to withdraw support.
Johnson, who may be in control of sufficient funds to defend his position, pre-empted. He notified the sponsors that their help would not be required next April.
The PGA has not buckled, nor so far has CBS, which has broadcast the Masters since 1956 — not because it is profitable but because it is a prestige event.
In 1990, under Chairman Hord Hardin, Augusta admitted its first black to prevent a brouhaha from stirring forth. Tiger Woods won his third Masters this year. One expects he will play in the next.
We are certain Mr. Johnson could easily find a woman of quality to grace Augusta's membership rolls after the fashion of Mr. Hardin. But he has not and says he will not “at the point of a bayonet.”
We also are certain the women of the NCWO are entitled to protest by any legal means the club's exclusionary policy.
And the crack of hard heads butting is heard throughout the land.
But make no mistake: Augusta is within its rights. Acknowledging that is the most important point of all.
