Georgia, sweet Georgia

Finally I will be able to play Augusta, well if I was ever given the opportunity, which, to be honest, is as likely as Tampa Bay winning the Super Bowl.

I still find it ludicrous that, in 2012, women being allowed to join a golf club is global news.

 The thing that surprised me was that Augusta National changed before the R&A and I mean genuinely surprised.

As a rule of thumb America is, politically, a lot more right wing than the UK and generally we on this side of the pond seem more, well, socially aware.

So why does the R&A continually bury its head in the sand over men only clubs ?
Are they neanderthal ?
Are they sexist ?
Are they bigoted?
These are not rhetorical questions by the way.

The fact that the R&A continue to award the Open Championship to men only clubs is nothing short of disgraceful.

If the R&A were serious about tackling sexism in golf they would quite simply not award the Open Championship to these clubs. They hide behind the “bringing the Open Championship to the greatest links courses” line, putting the emphasis on the course rather than the club.

I bet you a pound to a penny if the R&A pulled Royal St Georges and Muirfield off the Open rota they would be allowing woman members with in a month.

I was told a story of a couple, man & a woman, playing at Royal St Georges and they were classified, in terms of playing rights, as a single player! Can you seriously, honestly tell me that if they did the same thing to a person of colour that would be accepted?

The R&A will continue to take absolutely no action against these clubs, why? Well you tell me because I don’t have a Scooby!

Augusta National has come a long way since Lee Trevino changed his shoes in the car park.

Now not for one second do I think you will see tee times blocked off for ladies club competitions, I honestly doubt that by 2020 there will be a 100 female members, but at least, as a club, they have entered the 21st century.

But if Augusta National want, and I mean really want to crack that glass ceiling then I have a suggestion.

The week after the Masters why don’t they host an LPGA event? The Augusta National Ladies Invitational?

Give the winner the same rights as winners of the Masters.

It could potentially become the most watched Ladies event in world golf.

A week after the masters all the infrastructure would still be in place and there would be a global TV audience desperate to see more of the stunning Augusta National.

A sixth ladies major? Well why not.

To the committee and members of Augusta National, gentleman I raise a glass to you, congratulations and I thank you.