Female Golf Reporter Threatens Masters Protest

Things are about to get more uncomfortable for the antiquated all-male membership policies at Augusta National.

The New York Times golf writer Karen Crouse wants to skip The Masters in protest, unless the club changes its policy to allow female members.

"If it were left to me, which it seldom is in the power structure of writer versus editor, I'd probably not come cover this event again until there is a woman member," Crouse told Sports Illustrated. "More and more, the lack of a woman member is just a blue elephant in the room."

This comes the same week Chairman Billy Payne attempted to defend the policy of women not being allowed to join the old boys' clubs. "As has been the case whenever that question is asked, all issues of membership are now and have been historically subject to the private deliberations of the members, and that statement remains accurate and remains my statement."

Crouse attended Payne's news conference and asked Payne what he would tell his granddaughters about his Augusta National club not letting women in. Payne played dodge ball, saying that was a "question that deals with membership" and moved on. Crouse then tossed a follow-up question by stating it was a "kitchen-table question, a personal question." Payne then answered, "Well, my conversations with my granddaughters are also private."

A college swimmer and graduate of the University of Southern California, Crouse has been with the New York Times since 2005. She was named golf writer in 2011. Before joining the Times, Crouse spent four years at the Palm Beach Post.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that President Obama's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted" to the golf club.

-- Follow Ben Maller on Twitter @BenMaller.