Augusta National Chairman Remains Silent On Women Issue

Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne stuck to his guns on Wednesday regarding the issue of whether a woman would become a member at the home of the Masters golf tournament.

“As has been the case whenever that question is asked, all issues of membership have been and are subject to private deliberations of the members,” Payne said, according to The Marietta Daily Journal. “No. 1, we don’t talk about our private deliberations. No. 2, we especially don’t talk about them when a named candidate is part of the question.”

Payne's response has remained consistent every time the issue arises. It is topical this time because one of the club’s longtime sponsors, IBM, has a new female CEO — Virginia Rometty (pictured) — and male CEOs of IBM are almost always invited to be members. “That statement remains accurate and that remains my statement," Payne added.