AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The opening round of the Masters is underway. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer took the ceremonial opening tee shots just before 8 a.m. Thursday.

Wednesday, thunderstorms at the Augusta National Golf Club canceled the annual par 3 contest.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the club, Billy Payne, refused to comment on when or if women would be allowed in and told reporters that all issues of membership have been and are subject to private deliberations of the members.

the topic was on the front burner again because one of the club's longtime sponsors, IBM, has a new CEO, Virginia Rometty. The last four CEOs at IBM, all male, have been invited to be members.