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A18 SPORTS
Friday 6 april 2018
Augusta National to host women's amateur tournament

By DOUG FERGUSON Ridley said. "We think that to
AP Golf Writer have one week where the
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Au- future greats of the game
gusta National went nearly and the current greats of
80 years before having fe- the women's game are all
male members. Now the competing on a big stage,
club is inviting its first female it's just very exciting."
competitors. He said he has spoken to
The Augusta National LPGA Commissioner Mike
Women's Amateur begins Whan, and that Whan "un-
next year, a 54-hole event derstands our motivations
for top amateurs from for doing this."
around the world who will Whan was on site at Au-
become the first women to gusta National, where cell-
play a tournament at the phones are prohibited, and
home of the Masters. unable to respond to a re-
Fred Ridley, who took over quest for comment. But the
as club chairman in Octo- LPGA issued statement.
ber, said the new tourna- "We have a real opportu-
ment will expand Augusta nity currently to make the
National's goal to inspire weekend prior to the Mas-
young people, following ters a celebration of wom-
in the footprint of the Asia- en's golf unlike anything
Pacific Amateur, the Latin In this image made with a tilt shift lens, fan walk past the leaderboard during the first round at the we have experienced
America Amateur and the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 5, 2018, in Augusta, Ga. previously," the LPGA said.
Drive, Chip and Putt com- Associated Press "While this announcement
petition for children. may create some initial
He said the Augusta Na- Carolina financier Darla citing." The first LPGA Tour major of challenges for our first ma-
tional Women's Amateur Moore. The latest member Ridley said the opening two the year, the ANA Inspira- jor, navigating multiple op-
was for a "segment of our is former USGA president Di- rounds would be held at tion, typically is the week portunities for women's golf
sport that is ... vital to the ana Murphy. Champions Retreat in Au- before the Masters in Ran- is a good problem to have."
future of golf." "I've said many times that gusta, with the final round cho Mirage, California. The The 72-player field will be
"We believe this event will our country is a story of our moving to Augusta Na- tournament invites leading determined by winners
have a long-lasting impact great institutions evolving tional on Saturday, April 9, amateurs, meaning they of recognized amateur
on the game," Ridley said. and becoming more inclu- extending the week at the would have to choose be- events around the world
Women have long played sive over time," Rice said. Masters. The finals of the tween playing with the best and by the women's world
at Augusta National, but it "This is one of the great in- Drive, Chip and Putt would on the LPGA Tour or a tour- amateur ranking. There will
wasn't until the fall of 2012 stitutions, not just American be on Sunday, followed nament with a final round be a 36-hole cut to the low
that the club invited its first institutions but international by practice rounds for the at Augusta National. 30 scores before moving
women as members — for- institutions, so it's evolved Masters. "We have no intentions of over to Augusta National.
mer Secretary of State Con- and it's become more in- But the announcement competing or taking away But she won’t get a green
doleezza Rice and South clusive, and that's very ex- caused one conflict. from the ANA Inspiration," jacket.q

Sumo in uproar as women first responders ordered out of ring

By MARI YAMAGUCHI with many criticizing sumo surgery at a hospital, city
Associated Press officials and saying they officials said.
TOKYO (AP) — The head of were choosing tradition The footage posted on
Japan's sumo association over life. YouTube was shown on
has apologized over an in- Sumo chief Nobuyoshi Hak- major Japanese networks
cident in which women first kaku called the announce- and other media as the
responders were asked to ment inappropriate and news topped headlines
get out of the ring as they apologized late Wednes- Thursday.
attempted to revive an of- day, while thanking the "Of course it is important to
ficial who collapsed. women for working to save protect tradition, but the
In sumo's tradition, the ring the mayor. way it excludes women
is considered sacred and In a statement, Hakkaku perhaps is out of step with
women are prohibited from said the announcement the times, and that's how I
entering. was made by an official feel as a woman," said Yuri-
That posed a problem who panicked after seeing ka Mita, a newscaster on a
Wednesday when Ryozo In this March 10, 2018, photo, sumo chief Nobuyoshi Hakkaku, the women in the ring, but Fuji Television Network talk
Tatami, the 67-year-old center in a gray tie, watches a ceremony to purify the ring be- never touched on the divi- show. "Without the wom-
fore the start of the Spring Grand Sumo tournament in Osaka,
mayor of Maizuru in north- western Japan. sive tradition. en's effort, the life of one
ern Kyoto, collapsed dur- Associated Press "It was an inappropriate re- person might have been
ing a ring-top speech. Two sponse in a life-threatening lost."
women, apparently medi- When two more women "Ladies, please get off the situation," Hakkaku said. Sumo's male-only tradition
cal experts, rushed in and rose to the ring trying to ring," a sumo referee said, The mayor, who had an has raised controversy for
started performing first aid join the first aid effort, an- determinedly. "Only gentle- acute cerebral hemor- decades, with even top
as several male sumo offi- nouncements demanded men go up." rhage, survived and was in women politicians barred
cials surrounding the mayor the women get out of the Footage posted on social stable condition Thursday from honoring winners in
looked on. ring. media triggered outrage, after receiving emergency the ring.q