WHY THE MASTERS BUNCHES AUNTIE’S KNICKERS

On Thursday April 8 the golf season starts for real.

The Masters at Augusta National is a televisual treat with the best golfers playing a wonderful course in full bloom. This year there is also the return of the Great Swordsman.

Broadcasting rights for the United Kingdom belong to the BBC and have done for 24 years.

They, like the other broadcasters, have to tiptoe through the many rules and regulations imposed by a conservative and wealthy private club which has a history of racism and bigotry.

Public opinion forced the acceptance of a black member in 1990 but membership remains closed to women although they are permitted to play as guests.

The tournament is a jewel in the crown for BBC Sport so year after year they hand over hundreds of thousands of our pounds to an institution that discriminates against women.

In 2007 BBC Sport introduced a female football commentator to its flagship football programme Match of the Day.

The then head of BBC Sport Roger Mosey said,

"Jacqui (Oatley) was selected on merit....we want to reflect the nation.. it's daft that we've had so few women commentators. It's something we want to put right."

If BBC Sport is so keen on promoting women and ‘reflecting the nation’ why then does it have anything to do with Augusta National?

It is seven years since Martha Burk and the National Council of Women's Organizations challenged Augusta National's refusal to admit women. She raised awareness but changed nothing.

Augusta National is a private club and the Masters is an independently run tournament. They are allowed to exclude women but should a public service broadcaster endorse that policy?

It is a question the new (since April 2009) head of BBC Sport Barbara Slater should but won’t consider when the contract runs out this year.

And there is another curious element of the BBC’s relationship with the Masters.

It is the only event in BBC Sport’s portfolio where the commentators promote sponsors.

It is the American way of advertising and is a contractual obligation.

During the four days of broadcasting you will hear Peter Alliss, Ken Brown, Wayne Grady and Sam Torrance mention IBM, AT&T, and Exxon Mobil.

There is no other output across the BBC where this is allowed.

Funny that.