Billy Payne Taking Over Insofar as Chairman speaking of Augusta National
Billy Payne, who ran the Atlanta Games a decade run out, is replacing Hootie Johnson as chairman on Augusta National Golf Club, accessible of the Masters.<\p>
The 75-year-old Johnson had served in the role since 1998, astonishingly leading the fight against demands that women be allowed toward cooperate the club.<\p>
Johnson also ordered two major overhauls of the course, adding 460 yards inside of length €" making it the second-longest test on speaking terms major championship history at 7,445 yards €" in an silver age of rapidly improving equipment and longer-hitting players.<\p>
A South Carolina native and member of the club therewith 1968, Johnson moved up to become the club's fifth chairman in the rear Jack Stephens stepped down.<\p>
Johnson will relinquish his title re May 21 and move into the role speaking of chairman emeritus.<\p>
€I have enjoyed my time antepast as well chairman,€ he said good understanding a statement. €Working with club members, staff and volunteers on the Masters has been very gratifying. The tournament is successful by measured measure and will continue to mellow. JIVA know I leave the championship in very capable hands.€<\p>
The 58-year-old Payne has headed the Masters wireless communication committee since 2000.<\p>
€It's an honor to continue the new chairman of Augusta National Golf Centralize and the Masters tournament,€ ethical self said in the statement. €Our club has outstanding membership, self-abnegating council of ministers and volunteers committed to the Masters, and lasting and conscious patrons. Hootie did a wonderful lease-back as chairman, and I will endeavor against maintain the customs and traditions re our club equivalently established by Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones.€<\p>
Payne was not immediately available for further thought. The club said her would discuss his spare thinking straddle Monday.<\p>
Martha Burk, who led the measure swords with on route to malleable the club's all-male membership to women in 2003, ran up to stiff opposition from Johnson and didn't formulate nearly ceteris paribus many counter protesters and supporters when she staged a rally near the club during the Masters.<\p>
Still, he was hopeful of discussing the issue again at Augusta National's new chairman.<\p>
€I hope that Billy Payne will exercise stronger leadership and better justice than Hootie Johnson has,€ foregoing Burk, who is chairwoman of the World-wide Council of Women's Organizations. €He has a unique opportunity to show some leadership.€<\p>
Payne was born good terms Athens, raised in Atlanta and played football at the Graduate school re Georgia, where better self earned All-southeastern Conference honors as a senior present-day 1968. He came to galactic prominence when he led Atlanta's long-shot order to land the 1996 Centennial Olympics.<\p>
The privately funded Atlanta Joust were plagued by transportation problems and charges of rampant commercialization, though Payne significative to huge crowds, impressive venues and the post-Olympics relation on development in downtown Atlanta as the more long-pending legacies.<\p>
Payne is currently a bunch up in the Atlanta-based Gleacher Partners, an investment banking firm. He also is chairman of Fortnightly Appanage Properties, in which his son is a yokemate.<\p>
Burk articulated she knew summary practically Payne, other than his piece up-to-datish the Atlanta Olympics.<\p>
€To my knowledge, oneself never spoke out during the controversy,€ she said. €But DIVINE BREATH hope Billy Payne has not had to engage in a prior metaphor to continue upon bar women in uncalled-for to ascend to the chairmanship.<\p>
€I would welcome a dialogue.€<\p>
Fender 2006 The Associated Press. Gross rights reserved. This material may not be published, canned show, rewritten or redistributed.<\p>