Tiger plays safe in Augusta controversy

TIGER WOODS is as superb at avoiding controversy as he is at finding the greens of golf courses the world over.

Woods again expertly steered clear of a thorny issue gripping America by saying the decision to allow women join Augusta National Golf Club should be left to the membership.

An editorial in The New York Times suggested Woods should boycott the 2003 US Masters in protest at the club’s continuing refusal to admit female members. But though the world number one has openly admitted he thinks women should be allowed join Augusta, he said the issue boiled down to a difference of opinion.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have always said there should be women members but it’s up to the membership to decide,” he said yesterday. “I am just an honorary member so I don’t have voting rights. I’ve stated my opinion in the past but it’s definitely a tough issue.”

The New York Times suggested that if the Masters took place without the world number one in attendance, it would force the club into reconsidering its stance.

“A tournament without Mr Woods would send a powerful message that discrimination isn’t good for the golfing business,” the editorial said.

Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson is adamant a woman will not be among the 300 members at Augusta by the start of the Masters in April.

In August, US Masters organisers announced there would be no commercials in the television coverage for next year’s event.

They said they were concerned that firms advertising during the broadcast could become targets for women’s groups. Woods is in Japan where he is preparing for this week’s Dunlop Phoenix tournament.