Golf stars hail women members at Augusta

VANCOUVER - Agence France-Presse

Yani Tseng welcomes Augusta National Club’s decision to allow women members.

World No. 1 Yani Tseng and USLPGA stars Michelle Wie and Brittany Lincicome hailed Augusta National Golf Club’s decision to allow women members for the first time in its 80-year history.

The move was announced earlier this week with former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina businesswoman Darla Moore accepting invitations to join the famed home of the Masters, where women could play but had not been members. 

“I just feel very happy that they finally have let ladies be members,” said Tseng. “I’m looking forward to going and playing there if I can. I’ve never played there so I think it’s very interesting.” 

One of Wie’s dreams has been to compete at Augusta National, not just play there. The two-time LPGA Tour winner tried at qualifying once by entering the US Mid-Amateur tournament and still longs to test her skills on the famed layout.

“I think it’s great that they’re allowing female members now,” Wie said. “I think that’s very cool. I would love to play the golf course one time. Playing in a Masters has always been a dream of mine.” 

Wie has played golf with Rice.

“I played a round of golf with her when she was in Hawaii by accident, so it was really nice catching up with her,” said Wie, who was a student at Stanford when Rice taught there. “It was really nice seeing her and just being able to talk to her was awesome.”