Augusta, GA (Sports Network) - Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne
confirmed on Monday that the club has confirmed its first two female members.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore have been admitted
to the club.
"This is a joyous occasion as we enthusiastically welcome Secretary
Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club. We
are fortunate to consider many qualified candidates for membership at Augusta
National," Payne said in a statement. "Consideration with regard to any
candidate is deliberate, held in strict confidence and always takes place over
an extended period of time. The process for Condoleezza and Darla was no
different."
The club faced protests in 2003 as Martha Burk called for the club to accept
female members. The club made no movement at the time, and Burk continued to
try to force the issue the following year.
No women were admitted then either, but the 2003 and 2004 Masters tournaments
went on without commercial interruption as the tournament faced added pressure
from some of its sponsors.
Rice has returned to her alma mater, Stanford, as professor in the Graduate
Business School.
Moore is a graduate from the University of South Carolina and was president of
Rainwater, Inc., a company owned by her husband. She has donated millions of
dollars back to her alma mater and South Carolina named its business school in
her honor.
"These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are
well known and respected by our membership. It will be a proud moment when we
present Condoleezza and Darla their green jackets when the club opens this
fall," Payne added.
"This is a significant and positive time in our club's history and, on behalf
of our membership, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome them and all
of our new members into the Augusta National family."
The Sports Network