Download
For 80 years, a defiant Augusta National Golf Club had nothing to say about its male-only membership policy.
But on the eve of the 2013 Masters, the club's chairman had just one word to describe the decision in August to finally open its doors to women.
"Awesome," Billy Payne said in a disarming southern drawl.
The breathtaking view is the same as it has been for decades, the home of the Masters golf tournament - a bastion of tradition unmoved by outside forces and events.
But this April, change is in the air, mixed with the fragrant smell of blooming azaleas, with former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and financier Darla Moore becoming the first women to don the famous green jackets.
Despite ending a membership controversy that had reached the White House and become increasingly difficult to simply dismiss as a club matter, Augusta has offered little insight into the timing of its decision and why it took so long.
"It went about the same process and the same amount of time as any other member," Payne told reporters as golfers went through final preparations for Thursday's opening round.
As Masters week began, Rice was attracting as much attention as the world's top golfers. Certainly there are good reasons for the gawkers, since there have been fewer women to land an Augusta green jacket than there are men who have landed on the moon.
Augusta's invitation-only membership has been steeped in secrecy since the club opened in 1932.
The club does not reveal its full list of members, believed to be around 300, although it is known that some of the most powerful men from industry and finance, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, are members.
Change commonly occurs at a glacial pace at Augusta.
It was not until 1990 that Augusta National invited its first black member, businessman Ron Townsend.
Before Augusta National's groundbreaking announcement in August, women were allowed to play the course only if invited by a member.
Pushed by the National Council of Women's Organizations to admit women, former Augusta chairman William "Hootie" Johnson dug in his heels, saying the club would not be forced to open its doors "at the point of a bayonet".
Even though the controversy has been largely defused, it is a subject Augusta National and Masters champions past and present continue to tiptoe around.
Tiger Woods, who steered clear of the debate while it raged, would not be dragged into any reflection on the issue, saying only he was happy to welcome Rice, his fellow Stanford University graduate, into the club.
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.
高中英语满分书信作文模板——投诉信
高考英语作文范文:Autumn in Countryside
2011年高考英语写作高分秘诀
英语作文3技巧:化繁为简 化简为优 化干为润
把握关键内容以免跑题,高考英语作文高分技巧
高中英语议论文的写作方法与技巧
2011高考英语书面表达之过渡及开头句
高考英语必备之写作常用谚语
2006年高考英语满分作文及名师评析
高考英语写作必备热点话题亮点词句6
迎合评卷老师胃口,高考英语写作就要“拽”
高考英语书面表达模板
2010高考英语热点范文:地震作文用语及避震知识
2011年高考英语写作热点句型100例
高考英语写作:学以致用,善于模仿
2009年高考英语满分作文及名师评析
高中英语满分书信作文模板——请求信
牢记高考满分句式增加英语写作亮点
2011高考英语提高作文成绩必备的88个词组
2011年实用高考英语书面表达模板套句背诵
2011高考英语书面表达之完美行文四步骤
高考英语写作必备句子
2007年高考英语满分作文及名师评析
高考英语作文万能公式
老外版高考作文:仰望星空,脚踏实地
高考英语作文开头技巧大串联
高考英语作文范文:The Value Of Time
2004年高考英语满分作文及名师评析
高考英语写作常用句型
高考英语写作必备热点话题亮点词句汇总
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |