Masters chairman indicates he's pro-women for R&A
Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, William Porter Payne, speaks with the media during a practice round prior to the start of the 2014 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2014 in Augusta, Georgia. Credit: Getty Images / Harry How
Masters chairman Billy Payne strongly indicated that he is in favor of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews admitting its first women members.
Female membership at Augusta was a flashpoint in Payne's news conference on the eve of the 2012 Masters. Later that year, the club announced it had included former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and corporate executive Darla Moore as its first women members. Payne proudly spoke of their inclusion when he addressed the media last year.
The Scotland-based R & A, which is essentially the international version of the U.S. Golf Association, announced in March that it would hold a vote on making a similar decision.
"Well, I'm a proud member of the R & A and I bet you can guess how I'm going to vote," Payne said Wednesday. "Other than that, I would respect their process, their requirement to conduct a vote. So the process will culminate in a decision. As I said, I know where one vote is going to be cast."
Payne also said no decision has been reached on replacing the Eisenhower Tree, the famed old loblolly pine on Augusta National's 17th hole that fell during an ice storm. Ike's Tree, named for the former U.S. president and Augusta member who was so often confounded by it, Payne said, "We do not yet have a definitive plan as to what, if anything, we will do to the 17th hole beyond this year's tournament. We are closely examining play and scoring on the hole this week, and will make a decision after careful observation and consideration."
One advocate for leaving the area bare is Gary Player, who played in a record 52 Masters and won three. Player, 78, said it came out at the champions dinner Tuesday night that only 3 percent of golfers had hit the tree.
"Me, I would say it has served its purpose," said Player, who played with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in the Par 3 Contest Wednesday and will join them again as one of the honorary starters this morning. "The memories are there. But leave it as it is, no question. The hole is more defined. You can see the fairway."
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