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Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley is hoping the rift between the world’s best professional golfers will be over soon.
This will be the third Masters Tournament to be played under the cloud of division between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Tour.
Most of the top LIV players – 12 of them – are here either as former Masters champions or on exemptions as recent major champions. However, there would be far more if LIV players received World Golf Ranking points, one of the avenues to qualify for the Masters.
Talks have been underway since June 6, 2023, between the PGA Tour and LIV after creating a framework agreement. As it is now, the only time all the world’s top players compete against each other is in the majors.
“I'm going to continue to be saying that and encouraging the leaders of the organizations involved to try to work together to come up with a solution,” Ridley said. “But I think we all agree that four times a year is not enough to have the great players of the game together.”
In his annual “State of the Masters” address Wednesday, Ridley made it clear that the Masters would not follow the lead of two other major championships – the British Open and the PGA Championship – in creating specific exemptions for LIV players. The other major, the U.S. Open, is open to all players with a low enough handicap who go through qualifying.
“We are an invitational tournament,” Ridley said. “We have historically considered special cases for invitations for international players, which is how Joaquin Niemann (a LIV Tour golfer from Chile) was invited, or why he was invited, the last couple years. We feel we can deal with that issue, whether it's a LIV player or a player on some other tour that might not otherwise be eligible for an invitation, that we can handle that with a special invitation.”
He called the club’s response to the devastating Hurricane Helene, which landed a direct blow on Augusta on Sept. 27, a “monumental effort,” both on the course and in the community.
“I think at times we had well over 200, 250 people on the property,” Ridley said. “But what I think is more important and what really was something that had an impact on me was the way our employees went into the community and really started focusing their efforts in addition to the work they had to do here, but how they could help their fellow citizens of Augusta.
"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. Also, I'm very proud organizationally of what we were able to do to help the community … Our people really reacted. They did a great job here, obviously, but we expected that. But what they did in the community was something that I'll always remember.”
He said the club has a responsibility to Augusta, which he had previously said, “has been very good to this club and to the Masters Tournament.”
“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.
Specific to the Masters this year, Ridley explained why the Thursday and Friday starting times are earlier this year, the return of former champion Angel Cabrera, two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer’s final Masters and Lee Elder’s milestone.
The starting times begin at 7:40 a.m. for the first two rounds. In 2023, the first group went off at 8 a.m. Last year, the times were delayed because of weather. There were 89 players in the field in 2024 and 95 this year.
“Well, we have more players,” Ridley said. “Our average field the last few years has been around 90 players, and we have 95 players this year. So that extra two groups just adds a little time. So we'd rather do it on the front end than the back end.”
Earlier in the conference, Ridley expressed concern about slow play in golf, not specifically the Masters. But he hoped that starting this year’s tournament with a twosome instead of a ********* would improve pace of play. The rest of the field will be in threesomes.
“It always kind of helps get things moving,” he said of twosomes. “And that'll put a little more pressure, I think, on the groups that follow because as long as you keep up with the group ahead of you, then you're going to be okay, and that group is obviously going to be playing quicker.”
Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion, is returning for the first time since 2019. He served nearly three years in an Argentine prison for assaulting and threatening two of his ex-girlfriends. Certain domestic rights groups have opposed his return.
“Well, we certainly abhor domestic violence of any type,” Ridley said. “As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he is the past champion, and so he was invited.”
For Langer, he exits on the 40th anniversary of his first Masters victory. Langer, 67, also won in 1993. This will be his 41st Masters.
“Bernhard has achieved success and longevity, and we look forward to welcoming him each year at the Masters Club Dinner for many, many years,” Ridley said. “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.”
Ridley made special mention of Elder, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters.
“I hope all of you will note that we celebrate a significant milestone this week,” Ridley said. “It was 50 years ago tomorrow (April 10) that Lee Elder became the first Black man to compete in the Masters. Jack Nicklaus would ultimately go on to win his fifth green jacket that week, but by then, history of another dimension had been made when Lee hit his first shot as a Masters competitor. Fifty years later, Lee's inspiration, his courage and spirit remain truly an inspiration for all of us. We never will forget his enduring legacy that made golf a better game for everyone.”
Looking to the future, Ridley said there could be some changes to the invitation qualifications, opening the door for some international tournaments.
He also said what he called a “players services building,” expected to be located behind the grandstands on the driving range, would be operational for the 2026 Masters.
“It will feature state-of-the-art fitness, physio and locker rooms, as well as a dining room where a player can enjoy meals with their families and support teams,” Ridley said. “This improvement will offer the competitors in the Masters facilities from arrival until departure, unlike anything in sports. The Player Services Project underscores our continuing commitment to do all we can to serve the participants in the Masters during their time here.”
Stick with AugustaChronicle.com all week for full coverage of from the USA TODAY Network at the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Masters 2025: Chairman Fred Ridley wants end to PGA Tour-LIV rift
Continue reading...
This will be the third Masters Tournament to be played under the cloud of division between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Tour.
Most of the top LIV players – 12 of them – are here either as former Masters champions or on exemptions as recent major champions. However, there would be far more if LIV players received World Golf Ranking points, one of the avenues to qualify for the Masters.
Talks have been underway since June 6, 2023, between the PGA Tour and LIV after creating a framework agreement. As it is now, the only time all the world’s top players compete against each other is in the majors.
“I'm going to continue to be saying that and encouraging the leaders of the organizations involved to try to work together to come up with a solution,” Ridley said. “But I think we all agree that four times a year is not enough to have the great players of the game together.”
In his annual “State of the Masters” address Wednesday, Ridley made it clear that the Masters would not follow the lead of two other major championships – the British Open and the PGA Championship – in creating specific exemptions for LIV players. The other major, the U.S. Open, is open to all players with a low enough handicap who go through qualifying.
“We are an invitational tournament,” Ridley said. “We have historically considered special cases for invitations for international players, which is how Joaquin Niemann (a LIV Tour golfer from Chile) was invited, or why he was invited, the last couple years. We feel we can deal with that issue, whether it's a LIV player or a player on some other tour that might not otherwise be eligible for an invitation, that we can handle that with a special invitation.”
Masters, Augusta survive Hurricane Helene
He called the club’s response to the devastating Hurricane Helene, which landed a direct blow on Augusta on Sept. 27, a “monumental effort,” both on the course and in the community.
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“I think at times we had well over 200, 250 people on the property,” Ridley said. “But what I think is more important and what really was something that had an impact on me was the way our employees went into the community and really started focusing their efforts in addition to the work they had to do here, but how they could help their fellow citizens of Augusta.
"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. Also, I'm very proud organizationally of what we were able to do to help the community … Our people really reacted. They did a great job here, obviously, but we expected that. But what they did in the community was something that I'll always remember.”
He said the club has a responsibility to Augusta, which he had previously said, “has been very good to this club and to the Masters Tournament.”
“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.
Looking at 2025 Masters: Tee Times, Lee Elder anniversary, past champions
Specific to the Masters this year, Ridley explained why the Thursday and Friday starting times are earlier this year, the return of former champion Angel Cabrera, two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer’s final Masters and Lee Elder’s milestone.
The starting times begin at 7:40 a.m. for the first two rounds. In 2023, the first group went off at 8 a.m. Last year, the times were delayed because of weather. There were 89 players in the field in 2024 and 95 this year.
“Well, we have more players,” Ridley said. “Our average field the last few years has been around 90 players, and we have 95 players this year. So that extra two groups just adds a little time. So we'd rather do it on the front end than the back end.”
Earlier in the conference, Ridley expressed concern about slow play in golf, not specifically the Masters. But he hoped that starting this year’s tournament with a twosome instead of a ********* would improve pace of play. The rest of the field will be in threesomes.
“It always kind of helps get things moving,” he said of twosomes. “And that'll put a little more pressure, I think, on the groups that follow because as long as you keep up with the group ahead of you, then you're going to be okay, and that group is obviously going to be playing quicker.”
Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion, is returning for the first time since 2019. He served nearly three years in an Argentine prison for assaulting and threatening two of his ex-girlfriends. Certain domestic rights groups have opposed his return.
“Well, we certainly abhor domestic violence of any type,” Ridley said. “As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he is the past champion, and so he was invited.”
For Langer, he exits on the 40th anniversary of his first Masters victory. Langer, 67, also won in 1993. This will be his 41st Masters.
“Bernhard has achieved success and longevity, and we look forward to welcoming him each year at the Masters Club Dinner for many, many years,” Ridley said. “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.”
Ridley made special mention of Elder, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters.
“I hope all of you will note that we celebrate a significant milestone this week,” Ridley said. “It was 50 years ago tomorrow (April 10) that Lee Elder became the first Black man to compete in the Masters. Jack Nicklaus would ultimately go on to win his fifth green jacket that week, but by then, history of another dimension had been made when Lee hit his first shot as a Masters competitor. Fifty years later, Lee's inspiration, his courage and spirit remain truly an inspiration for all of us. We never will forget his enduring legacy that made golf a better game for everyone.”
What's next for the Masters? More qualifications, new building
Looking to the future, Ridley said there could be some changes to the invitation qualifications, opening the door for some international tournaments.
He also said what he called a “players services building,” expected to be located behind the grandstands on the driving range, would be operational for the 2026 Masters.
“It will feature state-of-the-art fitness, physio and locker rooms, as well as a dining room where a player can enjoy meals with their families and support teams,” Ridley said. “This improvement will offer the competitors in the Masters facilities from arrival until departure, unlike anything in sports. The Player Services Project underscores our continuing commitment to do all we can to serve the participants in the Masters during their time here.”
Stick with AugustaChronicle.com all week for full coverage of from the USA TODAY Network at the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Masters 2025: Chairman Fred Ridley wants end to PGA Tour-LIV rift
Continue reading...
