Americans are evenly divided over whether Augusta National Golf Club should have female members, and three-fourths say Tiger Woods should play in the Masters despite the dispute, an Associated Press poll found.
When asked which perspective came closer to their own views, 46 percent of respondents said Augusta National has a right to have an all-male membership, while the same percentage said a club holding such a prestigious golf tournament should have female members.
Seventy-five percent in the survey, conducted for the AP by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pa., said Mr. Woods should play in the tournament in April, while 15 percent said he should not. Mr. Woods, who has won the Masters three times, including the past two tournaments, plans to play, although he has said he favors admitting a female member to the club.
A New York Times editorial Nov. 18 suggested Mr. Woods should not play.
The question about the club's membership got different reactions from women and men.
Women were slightly more inclined than men to say the club should have female members. Younger adults also were more likely to feel that way, and the sentiment declined steadily among older groups.
Those who follow professional golf, slightly less than one-fourth of the population, or 23 percent, were more inclined to defend Augusta National's right to have an all-male membership. The poll of 1,004 people was conducted Nov. 22-26 and has an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The controversy doesn't appear to be hurting the image of the Masters. Only one in five said the club's all-male membership makes them view the tournament less favorably, and three-fourths said it has no effect on their view of the event.
AUGUSTA NATIONAL
POLL QUESTIONS
The Associated Press poll on the Augusta National Golf Club is based on telephone interviews with 1,004 adults from all states except Alaska and Hawaii. The interviews were conducted Nov. 22-26 by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pa. The results were weighted to represent the population by demographic factors such as age, sex, region and education. The poll has a margin of error of three percentage points.
The questions in the poll:
1. How closely would you say you follow professional golf?
Very closely, 9 percent
Somewhat closely, 14 percent
Not very closely, 18 percent
Not at all, 59 percent
2. As you may know, one of the world's most prestigious golf tournaments, the Masters, is hosted by Augusta National Golf Club. Augusta National does not have women members, although women do play at Augusta National golf course as guests. Which of the following statements comes closer to your view:
A. As host of such a prestigious golf tournament, Augusta National should have women members.
B. As a private club, Augusta National has the right to only have men as members.
Should have women members, 46 percent
Has right to have only men as members, 46 percent
Don't know-refused, 8 percent
3. Many members of Augusta National Golf Club are current or retired executives of some of the nation's biggest companies, which have policies against discrimination on the basis of gender. Regardless of whether a private club should have only male members, do you think ...
A. It's all right for executives of companies with policies against gender discrimination to belong to a private club that has only male members, or
B. Those executives should not belong to clubs with only male members.
All right, 52 percent
Should not belong, 35 percent
Don't know-refused, 13 percent
4. Does knowing that Augusta National Golf Club does not have women as members make you view the Masters golf tournament more favorably, less favorably or does that make no difference in how you view the Masters?
More favorably, 3 percent
Less favorably, 21 percent
Makes no difference, 74 percent
Don't know-refused, 2 percent
5. Some have argued that Tiger Woods, a three-time winner of the Masters, should skip the tournament this year in an effort to influence Augusta National to expand its membership to women. Woods favors admitting women, but says he should not be singled out in the dispute and will play in the Masters. Do you think Tiger Woods should play in the Masters this year, or should he skip the tournament?
Should play, 75 percent
Should skip, 15 percent
Don't know-refused, 10 percent
Previous Stories
2004
• Augusta settles in Burk suit
• Editorial: Over and done with
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• Law on protest gets no hearing
2003
• Burk leads small rally amid crowd of protests
• Augusta man will organize protest
• Information on Masters often wrong
• Decision on Masters protest to come next week
• Burk seeks permission to protest at Masters front gate
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• Augusta grants first permit for Masters protest
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• Masters spending feels corporate cutbacks
• Woman organizes protest of Burk
• Walker asks city officials to hold forums on protest
• Mayor resolves deadlock with vote for amendment
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• NCWO's Burk makes her first trip to Augusta
• City law muddles protest decision
• Jackson warns of protests
• Protest law will stay put
• Committee reviews protest law
• Votes fail to change city's law
• City revises protest law ahead of Masters
• Howell says controversy is costing Augusta
• Safety concerns hinder protesters
2002
• Times to publish revised versions previously rejected columns
• Web sites back National
• Times cites editorial standards in refusal to run two sports columns
• Club loses member amid controversy
• Associated Press poll finds even split on Augusta National policy
• Jackson sounds off on Augusta National
• Poll shows support for Augusta National
• View the survey
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• Advocate's fight goes beyond National
• What writers are saying about the Augusta National
• Augusta National membership - 'We will not be bullied,' chairman says
• All-male policy gets respect
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• Michaux: Another tradition for Masters
• Masters coverage under fire
• Michaux: Augusta National controversy takes spotlight
• Hootie Johnson has successful surgery
• Michaux: Augusta National debate promises to continue
• Masters telecast to stay on CBS
• Area women respect all-male golf clubs
• Advocate's fight goes beyond National
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