Augusta hands gender grenade over to Muirfield

Compared to the discomfort he experienced a year ago, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne looked a picture of relaxation as he answered questions from the media this week following his annual State of the Masters address.

It was 12 months ago that chairman Payne had shifted uneasily in his seat as he evaded questions as to why Augusta National’s all-male membership had persisted with its policy of not inviting females to join the revered Georgia club.

Having earlier in his press conference trumpeted Augusta National’s commitment to growing the game across the world, the hypocrisy of his own club not permitting 51% of the world’s population was all too evident.