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It's only been two months since Augusta National let women in. They're already remodeling.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, the club's historic clubhouse will undergo some "major" expansion. We're guessing ladies' rooms:

A site plan filed by Cran­ston Engineering Group indicates the club, which plays host to the Masters Tour­nament, intends to demolish a portion of the existing building, including the kitchen area, and an adjacent building on the northeast side of the clubhouse to make way for the new structure. Bob Austin, of Augusta Planning and Development, said the plan shows a large, two-level structure will be built, with the lower level sitting below grade.

"Looks like they are doing some major renovations to the existing clubhouse,” Austin said after reviewing the plans, which were filed in May.

Ok, maybe a lot of ladies' rooms. According to the Augusta Chronicle report, the original structure — which was built as a plantation house in 1854 — won't change. That building has been remodeled several times since, most recently in 2003.

Augusta National spokesman Steve Ethun could not provide any details on the plans, saying the private club does not comment on internal improvement projects.

Masters traditionalists, don't panic. We expect sandwich prices to stay the same.

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With the recent shuffle coming out of Augusta, anyone with a memory capable of reaching back a decade or so has to ask: Wherefore art thou, Hootie?

Hootie Johnson, the former chairman of Augusta National — a man who famously responded to public pressure in 2002 by saying the club might admit women on it's own time, and not "at the point of a bayonnet" — was behind the scenes. In fact, according to a report filed Wednesday by Michael Buteau of Bloomberg News , it was Johnson himself who nominated fellow South Carolinian Darla Moore for membership.

“She has a long connection with me," Johnson told Buteau over the phone. "I’ve had her as a guest at the club a number of times along with her husband. She’s a sweet lady.”

That "connection" includes hitting up Moore for a $ 25 million donation to what would become the Moore School of Business, according SI's own Alan Shipnuck:

"So in the fall of '97, I get an urgent call from Hugh McColl" — a Friend of Hootie and a fellow Augusta National member — "and he flew out in a private plane to meet me at some backwater restaurant in Florence [South Carolina], near the booming metropolis of 6,000 where I make my home. I thought he wanted to sell me some real estate or somesuch. When he walked in he introduced me to Hootie, and I went crazy. I was thuh-rilled to death, just charmed out of my socks. Then the ball drops. Hootie begins in that accent of his: 'Dah-luh, this is what we want to get done…' Hootie's point was that it was a statement that needed to be made, that a female from the rural deep South could succeed in big business. Finally, I said, 'Hootie, how much might this privilege cost me?'"

Shipnuck goes on to describe Johnson's looming presence in Moore's childhood household. Her father, the article explains, failed to recruit Johnson — then a "crazy-legged tailback" — to Clemson. He went to South Carolina instead. Her father's minor failure, coupled with Moore's tremendous success, got Moore in touch with Johnson all those years later. And now they have matching coats.

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Reaction from some of golf's biggest names to the news that Augusta National will admit its first female members.

Tiger Woods: "I think the decision by the Augusta National membership is important to golf…The Club continues to demonstrate its commitment to impacting the game in positive ways. I would like to congratulate both new members, especially my friend Condi Rice." (Via AP)

Annika Sorenstam: "I was delighted to hear the news this morning that Augusta National has allowed two female members into their club. The women invited, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore are highly respected women and business leaders. They will be great representatives for women in the game. I always felt that Augusta would eventually allow select female members. They are obviously a private club and I figured they would do it when they felt the timing was right and I am glad that day is here. Amazing things on the horizon for the game I love so much…Today is a historic day." (Via AnnikaSorenstam.com)

Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA Tour: "At a time when women represent one of the fastest growing segments in both playing and following the game of golf, this sends a positive and inclusive message for our sport." (Via AP)

Jack Nicklaus: "Everyone at Augusta National shares a similar passion for the game of golf, and I know they will be great additions to the club." (Via AP)

Sergio Garcia: "It's great. I mean I'm not a member so I don't have any say on that. That's great. I hope they enjoy it and plays as many times as they can and enjoy the course." (Via ASAP Sports)

Tim Clark: "I think it's great. It's a sign of the times and Augusta is a top notch club. Obviously about time and it's a place I love and love going to. It's nice to see them make that move." (Via ASAP Sports)

Carl Pettersson: "It's probably good but, you know, it's a private club. They could do whatever they want. But it's probably about time, yeah. Probably good." (Via ASAP Sports)

Gary Player: "Great news. Augusta National admits its first female members in 80 years: Condoleezza Rice & Darla Moore." (Via Twitter @garyplayer)

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