The Masters: Augusta chief backing women in R&A vote

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne has suggested that he will vote in favour of women being allowed to join the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson believes the club has “strong support” for the vote to admit women members, 260 years after it was founded.

And it looks certain there will be at least one ‘yes’ vote on September 18, assuming Payne travels to St Andrews to cast it in person. No postal or proxy votes will be accepted from the R&A’s 2,400 members.

Augusta National, venue for the US Masters, admitted women members for the first time in October 2012, with former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore becoming the first women in green jackets.

“As I’ve said before, we readily and joyously welcomed our lady members when that happened a couple years ago and it remains a very good decision,” Payne said in his traditional pre-Masters press conference.

“We are so delighted and I know I speak for everyonethat they are members. I’m proud to be a member of the R&A and I bet you can guess how I’m going to vote.”