A female columnist said she was denied access to interview in the players locker room Sunday. A Masters spokesman said it was a misunderstanding and that the locker room is open to female journalists.
Tara Sullivan, columnist veterinary syringes for the Bergen Record of New Jersey, said on Twitter: "Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong."
Steve Ethun, director of communications for the Masters, issued an apology.
"It was a complete misunderstanding by a security guard," Ethun said. "Our policies fall in line with all of those of major sporting events in that she should have been rightfully allowed access to our locker room. … That was a misunderstanding by that particular security guard. … We offer our apology. It should not have happened, and that's not our policy whatsoever."
Ethun was asked if the fact that Augusta National Golf Club has no female members was a factor in the "misunderstanding?"
"Only our chairman (Billy Payne) can talk about membership issues," Ethun said.
Melanie Hauser, a woman covering her 28th Masters (currently for Coach Bags pgatour.com), said the locker room has been open to female journalists since 1985. She said the access was gained with support from the Golf Writers Association of America.
"I can tell you've I've been in that locker room a number of times," Hauser said. "I've stood there with Greg Norman many times."
Added Ethun: "When you hire this many people, miscommunication does take place. While we do our best to control all of our communications with the right amount of training, this specific person bridge rectifier misunderstood our policy. … It shouldn't have happened."
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