Martha Burk returns with more Augusta claims

Following a 5-1/2 hour rain delay the year's first major got under way but not before Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO), fired the latest volley in her long-running battle with Augusta National to admit women members for the first time.

At almost the same time Jonathan Kaye was teeing off to launch the year's first major, Burk was in Washington announcing new legal action against the Augusta National Golf Club and Masters golf tournament sponsors.

Unsuccessful at convincing Augusta National to open its doors to women, Burk has focused her attention on pressuring Masters sponsors and club members, many of whom are CEO's of America's largest corporations.

The protesters have gone and the sponsors are back, having taken cover over the last two years to avoid being caught in the crossfire between the NCWO and Augusta National.

One of the world's prime sports advertising properties, the Masters aired without commercials in 2003 and 2004 but has welcomed back ExxonMobil, SBC Communications and IBM as sponsor of this year's tournament.

"Well, I guess order is restored, and we are happy to have them back," said Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson in his pre-Masters press conference.

Burk, however, cautioned Johnson about celebrating any sort of triumph.

"Hootie may feel like he has obtained some type of victory as he continues to guard the gates but I doubt the corporate guys feel that way," Burk told Reuters.

"They may want to ignore the elephant in the living room but as far as the corporate guys are concerned the elephant is still there.

"To be honest, we've left the club behind, as regretable as that is, and it is the companies we are focusing on."

In her latest action, Burk has asked those companies to clarify whether there is discrimination and did not rule out future lawsuits against Masters sponsors.

"Today, the coalition of more than 200 national women's organisations representing over 10 million women, sent letters to IBM, SBC Communications, and Exxon Mobil requesting employment data on hiring, pay, and promotion of women in their companies," said Burk.

"All of these corporations have policies against underwriting discrimination, and all are in violation of those policies.

"It is incumbent on them to provide data proving that they in fact do not discriminate against women in their workplaces."

Burk's announcement coincided with the publication of her new book: Cult of Power: Sex Discrimination in Corporate America and What Can Be Done About It.

The book details the names of more than 1000 firms and other institutions with direct links to Augusta National Golf Club's discriminatory practices.

"Far from being a place where friends gather for golf, Augusta National is a gathering of corporate power players like no other," added Burk.

"Deals are made, careers are changed, and even national policy is affected through relationships such as those of the 19 members of Augusta National who sit on the Council on Foreign Relations. All of this while shutting women out."