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Darla Moore, left, and Condoleeza Rice. (AP Photo/File)

First Masters arrives for Augusta's women members

Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore are the first women in green jackets at the US Masters.

FOR ALL THE attention golfing greats will command next week at the 77th Masters, it will be two 58-year-old American women in green jackets who will make history at Augusta National Golf Club.

Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore were unveiled last August as the first women members admitted to the formerly all-men’s club in Augusta National’s 80-year history.

“It’s a tremendous honour,” Rice said. “It’s a great institution. It does wonderful things for the game of golf. I look forward to being part of some of the initiatives to grow the game of golf.”

Ten years ago, activist Martha Burk led a rally across the street from the club during the third round of the Masters urging the inclusion of women at Augusta National, which admitted its first black member in 1990. Hootie Johnson, Augusta National’s chairman at the time, released broadcast sponsors from advertising commitments when Burk threatened to target them for backing the club’s men-only policy as discrimination.

The issue flared again last year as Virginia Rometty became chief executive of IBM, many noting that previous chief executives of the electronics giant had been Augusta National members.

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne called the arrival of Moore and Rice as members a “joyous occasion” in announcing the move, saying their process for admission was the same as for any other prospective member candidates.

“Consideration with regard to any candidate is deliberate, held in strict confidence and always takes place over an extended period of time,” Payne said. “The process for Condoleezza and Darla was no different.

“These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership.”

Rice called Augusta National “a very special place” and spoke of her love for the game, saying, “I just wish somebody had put a club in my hand when I was six.”

Rice served as national security adviser under former President George W. Bush and became secretary of state in his second term in office. She became the first black woman to serve as a provost of Stanford University in 1993 and is now a professor of political economy at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

“I have visited Augusta National on several occasions and look forward to playing golf, renewing friendships and forming new ones through this very special opportunity,” Rice said in a statement released by the club.

Moore is vice president of private investment company Rainwater Incorporated and was the first woman to be profiled on the cover of Fortune Magazine.

“Above all, Augusta National and the Masters tournaments have always stood for excellence, and that is what is so important to me,” Moore said.

© AFP, 2013

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    Mute David
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    Apr 10th 2013, 9:21 AM

    Typical, men create something perfect and women have to come along and spoil it.

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    Mute Sean
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    Apr 10th 2013, 9:38 AM

    Red thumbs en route I know, but is golf not an acronym for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden?…. Rules is rules! Hahahahahah … Soz!

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    Mute liam walsh
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    Apr 10th 2013, 9:36 AM

    Golf stands for “gents only ladies forbidden”

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    Mute Max Power
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    Apr 10th 2013, 1:19 PM

    No it doesn’t

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    Mute Ucanthandlethetruth
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    Apr 10th 2013, 11:14 AM

    “Condoleezza Rice” She is responsible for more dead black Americans then the KKK. World Class Golf would not want to be associated with her kind, she should have her membership revoked.

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    Mute Rena Fahy
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    Apr 10th 2013, 12:00 PM

    Do you even know what you’re talking about?

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    Mute Ucanthandlethetruth
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    Apr 10th 2013, 12:29 PM

    If your a little behind in the news, May I suggest you Google it before you ask such a stupid questions. But just to update you there is still a war going on in Iraq, And a Gold star to who can guess was one of the main protagonist in starting the oil war, any idea there Rena.

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    Mute Derek
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    Apr 10th 2013, 10:30 AM

    Rice should be in shackles along with Cheney, Bush & Rumsfeld instead of out playing golf in Augusta.

    Besides, they will be looking to change decor and install “lady toilets” next! Give them an inch……

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    Mute ADEBAYO FLYNN BITCH
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    Apr 10th 2013, 10:41 AM

    ‘Condoleeza honey, you towed the line, get your clubs you’ve pulled”

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    Mute William Delaney
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    Apr 10th 2013, 2:09 PM

    Cougars revenge……now they get to see the balls go in the hole…….

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