The Masters Tournament

The Masters is one of four major championships in men's golf and the first to take place each year. Unlike the other major championships, the Masters is held every year at the same location, Augusta National Golf Club, a private golf club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. The Masters was started by Bobby Jones who designed Augusta National with legendary course architect Alister MacKenzie.

Controversy

Augusta National had a long history of racial segregation, and it was not until 1975 that Lee Elder became the first African-American to play in the Masters. Then, in 1997, headlines were made around the world when Tiger Woods won the Masters. More recently, the club was targeted by Martha Burk, who organized a protest at the 2003 tournament to pressure the club to accept female members.

Related Topics:
Racial segregation - Lee Elder - African-American - Tiger Woods - Martha Burk - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the tournament is its television coverage in the United States, which the club awards on successive one-year contracts to CBS and USA Network. As a result, the CBS Sports crew which produces the event works under the possibility that coverage unfavourable to Augusta National could jeopardize future contracts. For example:

Related Topics:
Television - United States - CBS - USA Network - CBS Sports

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Jack Whittaker was removed from the CBS commentary team after referring to a crowd as a "mob" one year (he would return a few years later)
• Gary McCord was removed from the CBS crew after saying in 1995 that the Augusta greens were so slick, they seemed to be "bikini-waxed", and that "body bags" were located behind one green for players who missed their approach shots.