The Augusta National Golf Club has been around for 80 years. In all that time, it’s had hundreds, even thousands, of different members come in and out of the club. But, for the first time in its history, Augusta National will have two members who are unlike any of their other members this fall. That’s because those two members will be women.

You heard that right. Although there have been a bunch of protests against Augusta National over the course of the last decade due to their sexist membership requirements, it’s taken them eight decades to finally admit women into the club. Yesterday, they announced that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and financier Darla Moore will be inducted into the club in October. But, why has it taken the club this long to get its act together? Why, 22 years after admitting the club’s first African-American member, was the club still holding out and turning women away? Why didn’t this happen, like, 50 years ago?

We’re not sure. And, the truth is that we’ll probably never know the real reason. We’d assume it’s because Augusta National is incredibly behind-the-times and unwilling to change. However, we’re glad that they finally came to their senses and started to see that men shouldn’t be the only ones allowed at Augusta National.

“This is a joyous occasion,” Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said yesterday. “These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership. It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their green jackets when the club opens this fall.”

It will be a proud moment. For Augusta, for sports fans, and for all of America. It’s been a long hard fight, but Rice and Moore are living proof that things can change in this country. It’s just a shame that it took 80 years for it to happen.

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