Lydia Ko backs calls for women’s Masters

Lydia Ko has backed Paula Creamer’s claims that there should be a women’s Masters and said it would be a ‘dream come true’ to get to play Augusta National.

The Georgia club admitted Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as its first two women members back in 2013 and after Jordan Spieth’s maiden major success last month, Ko revealed she’d relish the chance to compete in a tournament at the course.

“I reckon it would be pretty cool to get a chance to play Augusta,” Lydia Ko said. “They’ve got a couple of women members there now so it’s definitely going in the right direction. To know that there’s maybe a chance that it might happen, even for the future generations or the juniors that are coming up, I think it’s a cool idea.

“To have a women’s Masters would definitely be a dream come true” – Lydia Ko

“Our similar event to the Masters would be the ANA where we jump in the pond and the winner gets their robe. We have five great majors but to have a women’s Masters would definitely be a dream come true, and for a player like Paula to say that, it’s definitely opening up opportunities for the players that are coming up.”

On April 14, two days after Spieth’s incredible wire-to-wire victory in only his second Masters, Creamer tweeted:

She added: “I think the patrons and everybody would love to have two weeks there, two tournaments. Why wouldn’t you? Hopefully, we will see something change and happen.

“It’s 2015. I think Augusta and the Masters and everybody with that event, they want to grow the game so badly.

“That’s what it is, about growing the game and giving people opportunities. There’s no reason why we can’t do that in women’s golf. We’re just as much a part of growing the game.”

“I don’t think that we would ever host another” – Billy Payne

However, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne was quick to play down the growing support behind Creamer’s comments, saying he doesn’t envisage a women’s Masters happening because of a restricted playing season.

“We have a very short member season at Augusta National. It’s seven months only,” Payne said. “The time that we dedicate to the preparation and conduct of the tournament is already extensive and I don’t think that we would ever host another.”

Lydia Ko supports women’s Masters :: Your thoughts

Do you agree with Lydia Ko and Paula Creamer that there should be a women’s Masters? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.