Group plans to pressure PGA Tour sponsors as part of push for women

The group spearheading the drive to get women admitted at Augusta National Golf Club may soon begin targeting sponsors of PGA Tour events to put more pressure on club leaders. <br> <br> Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women&#39;s Organizations, said the move would be one of several if there is no progress soon in getting women into the exclusive, 300-member club. <br> <br> The issue prompted Augusta National to drop its television sponsors -- Citigroup, IBM and Coca-Cola -- for the 2003 Masters in an attempt to shield the club from further controversy. Without sponsors, CBS&#39; Masters coverage will be the only commercial-free telecast in sports. <br> <br> Now Burk wants to take it a step further, pressuring sponsors of other tournaments. <br> <br> Burk also raised the possibility that protesters would greet players outside the gates of Augusta National next April if women are not on the membership rolls by then. <br> <br> Burk said, ``People are interested in coming down and protesting and they&#39;re not necessarily my members. There are college groups who say they&#39;ll come down and protest instead of going to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. Women&#39;s groups are writing me telling me they&#39;ll take vacation to protest. There&#39;s also a lot of people in Atlanta and the immediate contiguous states who feel strongly about this and could be there.&#39;&#39;

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