( CNN ) -- The chairman of the club that hosts America 's most prestigious golf tournament skirted the prickly issue of women 's membership Wednesday , saying it is a private matter . During his annual media session , Billy Payne , chairman of Augusta National Golf Club , did not comment specifically on Ginni Rometty , the top executive at IBM and , undoubtedly , one of the corporate world 's most powerful women . IBM 's sponsorship of the Masters tournament guarantees club membership for its officers , but Rometty is a woman , and the club does not allow women to join . `` Well , as has been the case , whenever that question is asked , all issues of membership are now and have historically been subject to the private deliberation of members , '' Payne said . `` That statement remains accurate ; it remains my statement . '' IBM spokesman Ed Barbini told CNN Wednesday that the company would not comment on the controversy . The question of Rometty 's membership has again brought the gender controversy to the forefront . Women 's rights activist Martha Burk tried to change the exclusionary policy nine years ago when she showed up at the Augusta entrance to lead a series of protests against men-only membership . Her efforts were in vain . Now , she says , `` the boys '' at Augusta , members and sponsors alike , find themselves in a big bind . `` The 'woman problem ' is back , '' she wrote in a column for CNN on Tuesday . Burk says there are only two choices at hand : Augusta can open its doors to women , or IBM can yank its money and force its male executives to resign from the club . `` Those are the only two options that are viable that are going to wash with the public , '' Burk told CNN last week . Augusta 's membership -- which includes titans of industry and finance -- has been male-only since the club 's opening in 1932 . When Burk tried to change things in 2002 , Augusta 's then-chairman , Hootie Johnson , resisted , saying that gender integration would not come `` at the point of a bayonet . '' In 2006 , Burk was among a group of Exxon shareholders who accused the company of violating its discrimination policies by supporting the tournament . Nonmembers can play on the course only when hosted by members . Augusta is famously secretive about its membership , and the club declined to comment on the issue , as did IBM spokesman Chris Andrews . `` Augusta is a private club , and their personal membership is an internal matter , '' he said . IBM , however , has played a role in changing policy before . The company pulled television ads from the PGA Championship when it was played at the whites-only Shoal Creek golf club in Alabama . The club admitted its first African-American in 1990 and now claims former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a member . Augusta also did not welcome its first black member until 1990 , when Gannett television division president Ron Townsend joined the club . On the eve of the 2012 Masters opening Thursday , speculation surfaced that Payne , known to be more progressive than his predecessor , will offer Rometty a membership , but only after the tournament ends and the gender debate dies down . `` Sorry , but that dog wo n't hunt , '' Burk wrote . `` Telling Rometty to be a good girl and wait a little longer with IBM 's collusion would be a disaster -- not only for the company 's image , but for Rometty 's credibility as its leader . '' More and more people are asking Augusta to man up and get rid of what they say is a discriminatory policy from the past . Payne did not announce any sweeping changes from the hot seat Wednesday . That means that Rometty will probably not show up this year in a green jacket . The question is : Will she ever ? CNN 's James O'Toole and Leigh Remizowski contributed to this report .
IBM National President Billy Payne is asked about the men - only membership policy . He says membership is ` ` subject to the private deliberation of women '' Ginni Rometty , IBM 's top executive , can not join despite her company 's sponsorship . Her status has reignited the ongoing controversy as the Masters begins .