Membership in golf clubs became a campaign issue yesterday when President Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney both came out in favor of admitting women as members to the all-male Augusta National, home of the Masters golf tournament.

White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters that Obama's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted" to the golf club. Carney said it was "up to the club to decide" but Obama told him he personally thinks women should be welcome.

"We're kind of long past the time when women should be excluded from anything," Carney said.

Romney, Obama's likely challenger in the fall, said "of course" he would allow women in "if I could run Augusta."

"I am not a member of Augusta,'' he told reporters as he chatted with supporters after a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. "I don't know if I would qualify. My golf game is not that good. ... If I could run Augusta, which isn't likely to happen, of course I'd have women."

The chairman of Augusta National this week said the club will decide for itself whom to allow into its ranks.

Associated Press sports columnist Tim Dahlberg wrote yesterday that the club is stuck in a time warp -- "just like the men in green coats who run it.''

