It's common knowledge that Augusta is pretty exclusive. The first African American member was allowed in 1990...enough said. So it looks like the possibility of seeing the ladies playing Augusta National is a ways off. However, because IBM's title sponsorship of the the Masters guarantees club membership for it's corporate officers, and one of the top exec's at IBM, Ginny Rommetty is a woman, the founding principles of Augusta National might be changing. If they do, however, they stand to lose nearly as much by denying her acceptance as they do if they keep tradition.
Although they try to avoid it, the PGA has taken on a sort of men's only theme from the beginning. Personally, I like the traditions of the Masters. I'm fine with it being a "Male Only Club", but when there's a policy that sponsor exec's get memberships, and you've got women in top spots, it's hard to have two sets of rules.
So there remains a series of questions with this somewhat "no-brainer" of a situation. Should Augusta National make an exception and allow Ms. Rometty to become a member? Will this set an unwanted precedent and open the flood gates to having more women join? And will the LPGA be knocking on the door next to hold the Women's Masters at the hallowed course? The traditions of the Masters have transcended multiple generations of golfers, but even the rules set in 1930 need amendment from time to time.
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