The hottest political issue in South Carolina is virtually a non-issue with golfers in Augusta this week.

``I don't make decisions about where I play because of these kind of reasons,'' Hal Sutton said. ``I happen to like a lot of golf courses in South Carolina.''

Last year, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announced it would boycott tourism in South Carolina until government officials decide to lower the Confederate flag from it's spot atop the state house.

Since then, several athletes from across the nation have joined the boycott, agreeing to stay away from sporting events in the state.

But that sentiment does not, apparently, stretch into the golfing world.

``It's not going to affect my going to play anywhere,'' said Jeff Sluman.

Several golfers, including Sutton and Tiger Woods have opted out of playing in next week's MCI Classic in Hilton Head, S.C. But tournament director Steve Wilmost says the flag issue has not been raised.

``I'm sure they all have opinions,'' Wilmost said of tournament players. ``But it has not come up.''

And Woods has said he plans to play in a made-for-television match against David Duval and Ernie Els being held at Cherokee Plantation in Yemassee, S.C. Monday.

Many golfers, including Sluman, said the flag is a South Carolina issue - not an issue up for discussion for people across the nation.

``I'm from Indiana. It doesn't bother me one bit,'' said Fuzzy Zoeller. ``Some people want it to fly, some people don't. You can't keep everyone happy.''

Augusta native and Masters participant Larry Mize said for the most part, he doesn't believe political issues have a place in sports.

But that doesn't stop him from having an opinion about the Confederate flag issue.

``It would not prevent me from playing golf there - not at this time. We have to think, though - what is the reason for flying it? What's behind it?'' Mize said. ``If it's negative for African Americans, I would say take it out.''

But by and large, many professional golfers say they don't have an opinion about the confederate flag issue.

``I hadn't really thought about it to be honest with you,'' said 1998 Masters Tournament winner Mark O'Meara.

And Davis Love III - a Sea Island, Ga., resident who has won at Hilton Head four times - doesn't even want to talk about the issue.

``I'm not going to answer that,'' he said. ``It's not a golf question.''

While most professional golfers are keeping quiet when it comes to the flag issue, several of South Carolina's college coaches showed their support for taking down the flag by participating in a march Tuesday.

University of South Carolina head football coach Lou Holtz, Clemson University head football coach Tommy Bowden, South Carolina head basketball coach Eddie Fogler and Clemson head basketball coach Larry Shyatt joined part of a 120-mile march that began March 26 in Charleston, S.C.

Tennis player Serena Williams may not play in the Family Circle Cup, set to begin on April 17 at Sea Pines Resort, said her father, Richard Williams.

And the New York Knicks basketball team changed the location for its annual training camp outside South Carolina after learning of the boycott.

Associated Press reports were used in this article.