Regarding the absence of female membership at the most prominent major-championship golf venue in the world, the serve-and-return volley between National Council of Women's Organizations chairwoman Martha Burk and Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Hootie Johnson has stirred the pot of sexist debate.

With the implied support of 6 million women under the umbrella of the women's council, Burk demanded Augusta National open its doors to women before the 2003 Masters Tournament - or else. Johnson fired back that his private club would not be "bullied" and would consider female membership on its own timetable.

As intense as the initial firestorm was, any outrage regarding the worst-kept secret at Augusta National seems confined outside the gated world of golf.

Players, leaders, corporate sponsors and even the most prominent club member have taken comfortable stances outside the range of the private policies of the golf club that plays host to the Masters. Most people steer clear of the topic like it is a water hazard guarding the 18th green.

"You know, that's not my issue," said Jack Nicklaus, the six-time Masters champion who accepted an invitation as a full member of Augusta National a year ago. "I think that's Hootie's issue. I'm a member at the club, obviously. I'm just a member. That's all I am. The club has its policies. I'm not involved in the policies of the club."

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said he "can't quarrel with (Johnson's) statement that the policies of his club are the club's prerogative."

The PGA Tour recognizes earnings from the Masters as official money, but it does not have any control over the tournament.

Since 1990, the PGA Tour's policy is to not conduct any tour-sponsored event at a course that restricts any members based on race, religion, gender or national origin.

"I don't think it's for us to be concerned about," Finchem said of Augusta National's lack of female membership. "I mean, there are men's clubs around the country. We choose to organize tournaments at clubs that allow women members. However, we don't have a contractual obligation with Augusta National, but we do have a long-term recognition of the Masters. We have no plans to change that recognition of the Masters in any way, shape or form."

The issue hasn't resonated too loudly in the highest women's sector of the golf world. The top female golfer in the world, Annika Sorenstam, played twice at Augusta National on a weekend visit five years ago and still relishes the moment.

"I enjoyed it," she said. "It was actually tough to concentrate. I was thinking about the Masters, that this player was here and this player was there. Then Amen Corner. I was really looking around more than I was playing. It was a great experience."

But when it comes to Augusta National's exclusion of women members, Sorenstam says she is not bothered.

"The club has their policy," she said. "I'm not involved in that at all. But women can be a great asset to a club, too. So I don't see any reason why they're not allowed."

LPGA Tour commissioner Ty Votaw didn't force the issue either.

"The LPGA respects the right of private organizations to determine their own membership policies," he said. "Having said that, it should come as no surprise that it would be our hope that women might someday be invited to become members of Augusta National Golf Club in accordance with policies determined by the leadership of its members."

Laura Coble, the top female amateur from Augusta and a member of neighboring Augusta Country Club, doesn't harbor any animosity to the men's club across Rae's Creek.

"I think Augusta National has the right to make the rules as they see fit," Coble said. "I know for a fact that they're not against or unsupportive of women. I've played there several times, and they give women plenty of chances to play. It's their right to have whoever they want as members. If you don't like the rules, don't join them. I personally wouldn't want to be a member where somebody didn't want me. That would be uncomfortable."

As for the council's attempts to coerce the club into adding a female member before the 2003 Masters, count Coble among the women who hopes the club doesn't yield to the tactic.

"I don't think they should do it to appease a group," Coble said. "They should do it if they want somebody to be a member."

Coble hopes the issue doesn't become more combative before the 2003 Masters, with pickets and boycotts detracting from the event where Tiger Woods will attempt to become the first three-peat champion.

"It takes away from golf," Coble said. "And it's not a good reflection on women forcing the issue."

Burk indicated that her group will make a "next move," probably contacting the tournament sponsors to apply the pressure that was intimated in her letter to Johnson.

But commercialization at the Masters is an extremely limited target. There are only three official corporate sponsors - Coca-Cola, IBM and Citigroup. The tournament has been televised on CBS for 47 years, with limited commercial interruption mandated by the Augusta National.

The stance of the sponsors and CBS is that their arrangements are with the Masters Tournament and not the club, and that the issue of membership does not relate directly to the tournament.

"We are not a sponsor of the Augusta National Golf Club, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the policies of this private organization," said Ben Deutsch, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola. "Our sponsorship is with the Masters golf tournament."

A spokeswoman for Citigroup declined to comment on the issue.

Debra Gottheimer, a spokesperson for IBM, said, "Augusta National and the Masters Tournament are separate. IBM's sponsorship is only of the Masters."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.