Billie Jean King Wants to Break Another Barrier: Getting Female Golfers Into the Masters

Why It Matters

An LPGA Masters at Augusta would elevate women’s golf visibility, attract sponsors, and address longstanding gender disparities in the sport’s premier venue. Success could reshape tournament calendars and revenue streams for the LPGA.

Key Takeaways

• King pledges to lobby Augusta for an LPGA Masters tournament.
• Augusta admitted women members only in 2012, still male‑only event.
• Women’s Amateur limited to one day on Augusta’s main course.
• LPGA veterans criticize scheduling clash with Chevron Championship.

Pulse Analysis

Billie Jean King’s latest crusade targets the most exclusive golf venue in the world, Augusta National, where women have only recently been welcomed as members. While the club added Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore, Ginni Rometty and Annika Sorenstam to its roster, the competitive landscape remains male‑dominated. The existing Augusta National Women’s Amateur showcases elite amateurs but confines them to a single round on the famed fairways, underscoring the symbolic gap between participation and true equality.

If King succeeds, an LPGA tournament at Augusta could become the sport’s equivalent of the men’s Masters, delivering unprecedented media exposure and sponsorship dollars for women’s golf. The LPGA has long struggled for parity in prize money and broadcast deals; a marquee event at Augusta would likely draw global advertisers, boost TV ratings, and provide a platform for top players to command higher earnings. Moreover, aligning the tournament with a weekend that does not conflict with existing majors would protect the integrity of the LPGA calendar and preserve historic events like the Chevron Championship.

King’s advocacy mirrors the transformation she helped drive in tennis, where equal prize money at Grand Slams is now the norm. By leveraging her brand and network, she can pressure Augusta’s leadership and rally corporate allies to fund the venture. A successful push would not only rewrite golf’s gender narrative but also set a precedent for other elite clubs to open their doors to women’s professional championships, accelerating the broader movement toward gender equity across sports.