Augusta Chairman All Green For Women R & A Members.

10 years ago by Comments Off on Augusta Chairman All Green For Women R & A Members.

Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne, who’s also a member of the Royal and Ancient of St. Andrews (R& A), is all green for allowing women to become members of the St.Andrews golfing body.

Payne, in his now ‘State of the Masters’ address said he would cast a “yes” ballot when the R&A votes to allow women members in September.

Two years ago Pyne helped usher in the first two women members to the previously all-male Augusta National. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore are now the proud owners of green jackets.

Although R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said in March when the vote was announced that pressure from sponsors and Augusta National’s acceptance of its first women members had no role in the R&A’s decision, Payne’s comments during his annual press conference on the eve of the Masters should prove influential when the 2,400-member R&A votes later this year.

“I’m proud to be a member of the R&A and I bet you can guess how I’m going to vote,” said Payne. “Other than that, I would respect their process, their requirement to conduct a vote. So the process will culminate in a decision and I know where one vote is going to be cast.”

Payne added that the addition of Rice and Moore came at the right time for Augusta National. “As I’ve said before,” he said, “we readily and joyously welcome our lady members when that happened a couple of years ago and it remains a very good decision on our part.

“We are so delighted, and I know I speak for everyone, that they’re members



Comments are closed.