No Masterminds at Work

It took the anniversary of the tragic events of last Sept. 11 to do it, but there was no news Wednesday in the dispute involving Augusta National Golf Club and the National Council of Women’s Organizations.

A recorded message at the NCWO said there would be no comment about the Masters issue--through Saturday--out of respect for the families affected by the terrorist attacks.

At Augusta National, a spokesman said that club Chairman William W. “Hootie” Johnson was not available for comment.

The silence won’t last. Presumably, after a respectful pause, the issue of whether the women’s group can force Augusta National to invite a female member will flare up again.

Martha Burk, head of the 160-group women’s organization, has taken aim at CBS to attempt to dissuade the network from televising the Masters, but CBS representatives have already said the network will take no action.

And insiders at Augusta National, who would not comment on the record, said it is certain that neither will Augusta National officials, at least not before the tournament in April.

So what we’re left with is an unresolved dispute that won’t go away.

It’s hard to sympathize with the hard-line stand at Augusta National that seems to portray the club as helplessly out of touch. Legal issues are fine, but this is a moral issue.

At the same time, such a time-consuming and expensive campaign, the success of which would enable a woman of obvious privilege to pay a hefty membership fee to join an exclusive club, seems to run contrary to the common interests of thousands of women with their legitimate, daily concerns in the workplace--not the country club.

Stay tuned.

Publicity Stunt

You have to love the early publicity for next week’s Solheim Cup, the women’s version of the Ryder Cup. Catrin Nilsmark of Sweden, who isn’t even on the team, got the ball rolling when she was quoted in a story for a Swedish Web site saying Laura Diaz “has a cocky attitude,” calling Cristie Kerr “a little brat” and saying Michele Redman “has no talent.”

When questioned about her comments, Nilsmark amended one of them, or at least expanded on it. She says what she actually said was that Redman had done well, despite having no talent.

If you add it up, this is the most commotion Nilsmark has caused on the tour since she made a stir by playing in hot pants. There’s a chance there will be more: Nilsmark is the European team captain for the 2003 matches in Sweden.

Stay tuned.

A Gilder Cage

It has been called life’s mulligan, and the Senior PGA Tour is clearly that if you use Bob Gilder as an example. He won six tournaments in a 24-year career on the regular tour, the last one 19 years ago. But Gilder, 51, won twice as a senior last year and four times this year--three of them in playoffs. No one has done that in 11 years.

How did he do it? Gilder is first in total birdies and sixth in putting, the combination of which vaulting him to second on the money list with $1.9 million.

Winning Time

Four months after his death, Sam Snead won another tournament.

That’s sort of how it has turned out after the PGA Tour Policy Board approved a rule change that counts victories in the British Open as “official” victories.

Snead, who died in May, won the 1946 British Open, but it was never added to his total number of victories because winning the British Open was not recognized as an official PGA Tour victory until 1995. Now, Snead has 82.

Other big winners: Jack Nicklaus 73 victories (1966, 1970, 1978 British Opens); Tom Watson, 39 (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983); Arnold Palmer, 62 (1961, 1962); Gary Player, 24 (1959, 1968, 1974), and Greg Norman, 20 (1986, 1993).

Ben Hogan, who died in 1997, now has 63 official victories, with his 1953 British Open victory at Carnoustie added.

Thank-Uh Vera Much

News item: John Daly is helping design two golf courses in Memphis that will make up sort of an Elvis Presley memorial golf complex, called “Elvis Presley Ranch.”

Reaction: One of the greens will be in the shape of a deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Oh, Canada

News item: The good news is that 17 Canadians were in the field for last week’s Canadian Open at Angus Glen.

Reaction: That’s also the bad news. No Canadian has won the Canadian Open since 1954.

Taunts R Us

The countdown continues to the Ryder Cup, which is two weeks away. David Duval, among others, figures something is missing, though. That would seem to be rampant animosity, which is usually a staple of the U.S.-Europe golf confrontation, but apparently now relegated to a lesser status.

In fact, ill will is a factor that might have been taken out of the equation since the event was postponed for a year because of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Said Duval: “I think it’s going to be easier for everybody because there hasn’t been as much hype. There hasn’t been any name-calling.”

In the interest of promoting a healthy environment, it’s time to change all that.

Here are some healthy taunting suggestions for both sides, but still entirely suitable for the occasion:

For Colin Montgomerie: “Hey, have you put on a few pounds or are you hiding some haggis in your sweater?”

For Tiger Woods: “Butch is coaching me now, baby.”

For Sergio Garcia: “Hurry up, will you? I’ve got to go to work tomorrow.”

For Phil Mickelson: “What’s the over-under on sundown?”

For Phillip Price: “Nick and Vincent can hit it better than you.”

For Stewart Cink: “You should have stayed where you’re more comfortable--in the kitchen.”

All right, now you know, so don’t be surprised if you hear any of this repeated.

Tournament Update

News item: The Air Canada Championship in Vancouver already has 640 volunteers signed up for the 2003 event.

Reaction: Thus exceeding the number of title sponsors by 640. At least the Air Canada event is not alone. There are as many as five PGA Tour events (Phoenix, Miami, Hilton Head, S.C., Hartford, Conn., Las Vegas) that are without title sponsors for next year.

Ryder Cup Update

News item: Published reports in Europe say that Jesper Parnevik is considering pulling out of the Ryder Cup because he’s playing so poorly.

Reaction: Really? Interesting, because you can’t do that.

Tuning In

Of course, it’s questionable that anyone can be declared the winner in this increasingly ugly matter, but how about the television viewers of the Masters who won’t have to endure a single commercial? John Markon of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia thinks it’s a concept that should be carried to other televised sporting events.

Said Markon: “Baseball games could be shortened by about an hour. It would be possible to view an entire World Series, Stanley Cup or NBA Finals without knowing every word of every ad by the end of Game 2.”

Money News

News item: Pro Tour Memorabilia announces the issuance of a new licensed World Golf Hall of Fame Raymond Floyd silver coin.

Reaction: Floyd can add it to his own coin collection, which includes the first nickel he ever made.

Birdies, Bogeys, Pars

Andy Carey, Mitch Gaylord and Dr. Sammy Lee are some of the celebrities expected to take part in the Byron Scott and American Happenings celebrity tournament that will be played Sept. 14 at Aliso Creek Inn Golf Course in Laguna Beach.

The event benefits Parkinson’s disease research. Details: (760) 632-7770.

The LPGA event in Tucson has a new name for 2003: The Welch’s/Circle K becomes the Welch’s Fry’s Championship.