IBM's Female CEO to Attend Masters

As the first female CEO of Masters sponsor IBM, Virginia Rometty's name has surfaced over and over this week in arguments about Augusta National Golf Club's policy against admitting women. And while she still hasn't discussed the issue publicly, Rometty will attend the tournament, likely adding more fuel to a debate that even President Obama and Mitt Romney have chimed in on. Rometty, who plays a bit of golf herself, according to IBM, plans to bring clients with her to watch.

The last four CEOs of IBM have been offered membership at Augusta, though often not right away. And previous boss Samuel Palmisano wrestled with the decision to join a club that barred female members, though he finally successfully applied, the Wall Street Journal reports. It notes that the Masters is one of IBM's top marketing events. (More The Masters stories.)