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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 2, 2002
ATLANTA -- Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, might not want to count on support from PGA Tour members in her battle to get Augusta National to admit a female member.
Not one of the world's top 30 money winners said he would consider boycotting the Masters if Augusta National does not add a woman to its 300-man membership.
"Hell, no," said Vijay Singh, one of 19 who said they would not consider a boycott. The other 11 refused to comment or refused to give a yes or no answer during an informal survey by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Only one, Len Mattiace, said the club should not admit a woman. Ten said yes, and 19 dodged the question. Those who said Augusta should invite a woman: Tiger Woods, Nick Price, Loren Roberts, K.J. Choi, Shigeki Maruyama, Jim Furyk, Jeff Sluman, Retief Goosen, Justin Leonard and Rich Beem.
"I don't know why they don't have a lady in there," Price said. "They should've done it 10 years ago. I'm all for it."
Several said they think Burk and her supporters are focusing too much on what they believe is a relatively unimportant matter.
Said Singh: "I think the ladies should address Afghanistan, where they're really struggling."
"To tell you the truth, I believe they are pushing the issue," Jose Maria Olazabal said. "And there are more important issues for women than that."
"In this day and age, to worry about something like this is absolutely amazing," Rocco Mediate said. "All of this energy is being spent on this when it's not all that important."
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Charles Howell III realized par would be an acceptable score at windy East Lake in Atlanta, and he did one better, shooting 69 for a one-shot lead in the season-ending PGA event for the money list's top 30.
Howell finished with eight pars for 5-under 135, one ahead of David Toms, Steve Lowery, Len Mattiace and Vijay Singh.
Toms had the best score of the day, bogey-free 66, Mattiace had 68 and Lowery and Singh, first-round co-leaders, had 71.
Despite consecutive bogeys at the turn, Tiger Woods (68) was four off the lead. Nineteen were within six of the lead, and except for Rocco Mediate (7 over), only 10 separated top to bottom.
WORLD LADIES MATCH PLAY: Karrie Webb joined Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak on the sideline, losing her second-round match in the Narita, Japan. Grace Park, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, beat Webb 1-up in wet conditions. A day earlier, Sorenstam and Pak lost their first-round matches.
Park took a one-hole lead when Webb bogeyed the 14th and extended it with birdie on the 15th. Webb made a 5-foot birdie on No. 17, but the match ended on the 18th when Webb's putt from the green's edge went past the hole.
"I made some mistakes after the turn and you can't do that in match play," Webb said. "On my last putt I didn't want to leave it short, but I had a little too much pace on it."
Park advanced to a quarterfinal match today against Yuri Fudoh, the top-ranked Japanese tour player who beat Rachel Teske 3 and 1.
Carin Koch faces Michele Redman. Koch beat Catriona Matthew 5 and 3, and Redman defeated Takayo Bandoh 4 and 3. Rosie Jones advanced, beating Chieko Amanuma 5 and 4 a day after the Japanese player upset Sorenstam.
Jones faces Hee Won-han, a 3-and-2 winner over Laura Diaz. Kelly Robins faces Midori Yoneyama. Robbins beat Cristie Kerr 1-up. Yoneyama edged Lorie Kane 1-up.
SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CLASSIC: Brad Elder shot 5-under 67 to push his lead to two after two rounds of the PGA Tour event in Madison, Miss. He had six birdies and eagle to offset three bogeys and was 12-under 132. Defending champion Cameron Beckman shot 68 and was one of five tied for second. Rookie Jonathan Byrd, former NCAA champ Luke Donald, Brad Faxon and Deane Pappas also were 10-under 134.
ITALIAN OPEN: The European PGA event was reduced to 54 holes after thunderstorms left Rome's Olgiata course unplayable. The cut will be made after today's second round; the final round is Sunday.