Masters chairman praises spirit in recovering from Hurricane Helene

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley discussed a wide range of topics during his annual State of the Masters address Wednesday.

He noted that a colder than normal January has been conducive to a perfect bloom of azaleas in time for the tournament.

He praised the “spirit of our entire Augusta National family” in helping the club and the community recover from Hurricane Helene.

“Our employees were out in the community distributing food, cleaning up debris and donating food and money to help others in their time of need,” even though many of these employees were victims of the hurricane themselves.

“Many of those people were impacted themselves. They had trees fall on their houses, on their cars. Their properties were littered with debris and trees. But it was really amazing what they did to help others,” he said.

He noted that Augusta National not only helped with hurricane aid through the Hub for Community Innovation but by using a facility across Washington Road as a distribution point.

He said Augusta has been very good to the club and to the Masters Tournament.

“I look at our involvement with our community as being a relationship. It’s not a transaction. It’s not a series of transactions,” he said.

He said he hopes the community feels like the organization has been ive but that in the past, that has been done “with a cloak of secrecy almost.”

Ridley said he believes Augusta National can be more transparent about its for the community.

“It’s amazing once you start giving what happens and how many more opportunities are presented,” he said.

“It’s a responsibility we have. It’s one that we accept and that we appreciate the opportunity to have, and we’re going to continue to do more,” he said.

Asked about the changes that have taken place in the past half-century for Augusta National, he noted that there have been a lot of physical changes, including more buildings. And he said the club has changed for the better while still following its core values of moving forward while still respecting tradition.

He noted earlier that in the past year, Augusta National has completed two big projects.

The new hospitality offering across Washington Road, Map & Flag, is now fully open. Its success is leading the club to think about what else is possible.

Phase 1 of the new player project is now complete. That includes an underground parking garage for the players. Coming up next is a new facility that will include a new locker room, dining facility and other amenities for the players and their families. That will open in 2026, he said. He said the organization aims to do all it can to the participants of the Masters while they are here.

2 key issues

He discussed two issues he said are facing the game:

• He wanted to express of the sport’s governing bodies in their efforts to implement a solution to the distance issues. A decision was reached in 2023, but implementation is the next crucial step. He said he’s encouraged at efforts to implement this change.
• He said pace of play is an important issue that needs to be addressed. He said it’s crucial for players to respect other competitors’ time, as well as viewers’ time, and move forward with play.

Other comments

• Asked about Angel Cabrera’s participation in the Masters after release from prison, he said the club abhors domestic violence. But he said Cabrera is a past champion. The rules of invitation allow him to participate.
• As far as reunification of professional golf – which right now is divided between LIV and the PGA Tour – he said it’s important for the best players to compete against each other more than a handful of times a year. he’s not in a position to directly make it happen. But he said he’s encouraging cooperation in trying to figure out a way to get something done, regardless of the structure, to get everyone playing together again.
• He noted that as Bernhard Langer prepares for his final competitive Masters, “We thank him for all he has done to represent the Masters Tournament and also the example that he has set for all who play the game of golf.”
• He took a moment to congratulate Carla Bernat Escuder for her win of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Sunday.
• He said that the Masters is marking the 50-year anniversary of Lee Elder becoming the first Black competitor in the Masters, Elder remains an inspiration to all.

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