MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 5, 2023

Fred S. Ridley

Press Conference

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Good morning, everyone. My name is Fred Ridley, and I serve as Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.

On behalf of our membership, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone to the 87th Masters Tournament.

I would like to introduce two of my fellow members who are with me today. To my right is Jim Hyler, Chairman of our Competition Committees, and to my left is Tom Nelson, Chairman of our Media Committee. Both Jim and Tom play important roles in conducting the Masters, and I thank both of them.

I'm happy to begin today by reporting that our Masters Tournament Foundation initiatives are firmly back on schedule and stronger than ever. I want to commend Rose Zhang on her victory in the 2023 Augusta National Women's Amateur, as well as our eight new Drive, Chip & Putt National Champions, and everyone who participated in those events.

These competitions have added to the excitement of the weekend leading up to the Masters and validate that the health of our game is extremely promising as interest in golf continues to build.

A perfect example of this is less than two miles away at the Augusta Municipal Golf Course. I'll draw your attention to the two screens. "The Patch," as the course is fondly known, has built a legendary reputation among locals as a place where the game is introduced and taught and where diversity is celebrated and where friendships are forged. All would agree The Patch is a valued community asset.

Our commitment to the Augusta community equals our commitment to the game of golf. I'm therefore proud to announce today Augusta National's intent to support a joint partnership with The Patch, Augusta Technical College and the First Tee of Augusta to usher in a new era for public golf in our city.

Initially, there will be three components to this program. First, under the leadership of Dr. Jermaine Whirl, all rights with Augusta Tech, will instill formal education programs that produce the next generation of golf's workforce. These initiatives will be aligned with those in place of the First Tee of Augusta, which will link these two facilities for the first time and expand their collective reach within the community.

Most importantly, the resulting synergies will produce innovative programming, provide an affordable and welcoming pathway for anyone who wants to learn the game. And finally, we will assist in the master planning and renovation of both courses to present a public golf experience for residents and visitors to pursue a lifelong relationship with the game.

We can't wait to get started with this partnership. We hope it will be a model for other communities.

To celebrate this occasion, I am privileged to recognize several key stakeholders in attendance today: Augusta Technical College, the First Tee of Augusta, Augusta Municipal Golf Course, the City of Augusta, and the State of Georgia.

I want to thank all of you. I want to thank all of you to your commitment to our community and the future of this game.

(Applause.)

We look forward this week to the 2022 Masters Champion, Scottie Scheffler, defending his title against an outstanding field. 88 competitors are here representing 23 countries, including, for the first time, Poland, with the invitation earned by Adrian Meronk. Among our seven amateurs will be Australia's Harrison Crowe, who won the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship; and Argentina's Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, who, in record-setting fashion, captured the 2023 Latin America Amateur Championship in Puerto Rico.

Another amateur competing this week with a special invitation is Vanderbilt University sophomore, Gordon Sargent. Gordon is the current NCAA Division I Men's individual champion.

Beginning in 2024, the reigning Division I Champion will be a listed qualification category to receive a Masters invitation. In addition, future NCAA Division I Women's individual champions will be invited to compete in the Augusta National Women's Amateur.

These additions to our qualifications are in recognition of the impressive quality of today's collegiate game, and in continued respect to Bobby Jones who believed in the importance of the best amateurs in the world competing at Augusta National.

Beginning next year, the Masters Tournament invitation criteria will also include two revisions based on recent changes to the PGA TOUR. The full list for 2024 invitations will be published at the conclusion of this press conference.

As all of you know, the subject of the 13th hole has been a topic of discussion for several years. After careful evaluation this summer, we moved the tee back, adding 35 yards to the scorecard. We believe this modification will put a driver in play more often and restore the element of risk and reward that was intended in the original design of the hole.

I would add that the planning and expertise of our agronomy and horticulture teams ensured that the finished work of this product maintained the dramatic beauty of Amen Corner.

More broadly, the subject of distance remains topical. A few weeks ago, the R&A and USGA proposed a Model Local Rule that reduces distances at the men's elite level. As the comment period remains open, we will be respectful of the process as the USGA and the R&A consider this important issue.

We have been consistent in our support of the governing bodies, and we restate our desire to see distance addressed.

I hope all of you will take the opportunity to see our newly renovated Par 3 course. We're excited that both Players and Patrons will enjoy a special experience today at the Par 3 Contest. Work completed over the summer features a new look on the first five holes, along with new Patron merchandise and concession services.

In addition to matters related to the Masters competition, I should note that this year marks the 10th anniversary of Berckmans Place, a facility some would say is the greatest hospitality venue in all of sports.

This milestone is a perfect occasion to share that work is underway to introduce the tournament's first official hospitality program outside our gates. This facility will be located across Washington Road, just a short walk to the North Gate. We plan to unveil the first phase of this exciting offering next year, which underscores our commitment to meet the evolving expectations of our Patrons and guests. We are confident demand for this offering will far exceed the supply of tickets, and beginning today we are collecting information on Masters.com for those who are interested. Further details will become available in the coming months.

You may remember that several years ago we successfully launched our first video game with EA SPORTS. The response to demand for an enhanced experience, we have returned to the EA platform with the launch of Road to the Masters. We saw the excitement for the first time this past Sunday evening just down the hall in the arena with the Road to the Masters Invitational.

This celebration competition included Masters participant Tony Finau and was played in front of an enthusiastic live audience, representing the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Augusta, the First Tee of Augusta, Paine College, and many other groups.

This week we celebrate the conclusions of two historic Masters careers. Sandy Lyle and Augusta's own Larry Mize both have announced that the 87th Masters Tournament will be their final as competitors. As they were in 1988, when Larry presented the green jacket to Sandy, they are connected again this week. We commend them for their fine play over four decades and for representing the Masters so well. Rest assured, their victories will forever be remembered.

I want to close by acknowledging a debt of thanks to the builders of the Masters and of our wonderful game, legends who have created history and truly a tradition unlike any other. These champions all are Masters heroes. They also are champions of the men's professional game; a game that as we know is currently experiencing divide. It is appropriate that today's players, all players, pause to respect and appreciate the opportunities made possible by the heroes and champions who went before them. As important, I hope they will follow the examples of their predecessors to serve the game of golf and benefit the next generation.

Golf brings people together, and I'm equally hopeful this week as Augusta can be the beginning of a path forward for our game.

With that, Tom, I'm happy to take a few questions.

Q. I want to go back to your announcement about the Masters Tournament Foundation project here in Augusta at The Patch. This makes two huge announcements in recent years that are transforming this city, thanks to Augusta National Golf Club. So the question is, in the wake of the HUB for community innovation and this changing and updating of The Patch, how important is your relationship with the City of Augusta? And if you can, what do you foresee in the future for other projects going forward?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Well, thanks for that question. I'll start by saying the importance of the community to Augusta National is founded in our mission statement. I've got it right here. You've probably seen this green card that we all carry around. It basically says that we are committed to our community. It's one of our underlying principles. And so if we are true to that principle, then we will continue to look for opportunities to contribute back to the community.

Certainly the HUB and the Boys & Girls Club was a great start. It was done in partnership with several of our sponsor partners, which we were very appreciative. We have been thinking about and looking for opportunities to really move the needle in introducing people of all different backgrounds and economic backgrounds to the game of golf. We thought that the best place to do that was right here in our community.

And so we are really excited. I had an opportunity to visit The Patch and the Boys & Girls Club. As the saying goes, it has wonderful bones. It's a fantastic facility. It's got great history, great traditions. So that's the perfect combination for us to partner with the organizations I mentioned earlier to really make a difference in the community.

And what I'm most excited about or as excited about, I should say, if we are successful working on this project, I really do think it's a model for other communities, and we are very interested in taking this on the road, as we say. But right now our focus is right here in Augusta.

Q. You mentioned back in December in clarifying the participation of LIV players that your criteria is constantly under review. I wanted to ask you, what would prompt changes, which apparently are coming, but I don't know how to ask you about them because I'm not sure what they are.

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Well, I mean, I think when you look at the changes that I mentioned that are going to be in place for 2024, they are fairly administrative, I think would be the best word.

The reason for that statement in December was really to sort of disabuse the notion that we might not be making any changes in the future. It wasn't to specifically have you anticipate that we were going to make some major announcement, although that could be the case.

We do look at our qualifications every year, but there are changes. Things are evolving, and we need to make sure that we are flexible in that regard. So I'm sure there will be changes in the future, but none beyond what I announced this morning.

Q. In 2018 the Masters was played in the aftermath of the release of the Distance Insights report. You were asked then about Hole No. 13, and you also said, and this is what you said then, that "My preference would be to see what happens with the governing bodies and what they decide is best for the game; then we will take the appropriate action response to that." This modified local rule is their action. As you mentioned, you're going to respect the comment period. Is your position, though, to support this proposal?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Our position has always been that we support the governing bodies. I think, in a general sense, we do support the proposal, but because it's in the middle of a comment period, it could change. The whole purpose of the comment period is to take the input from the industry. So we will look at the final product and make a decision.

But generally we have always been supportive of the governing bodies. I've stated that we believe distance needs to be addressed. I think the natural conclusion is, yes, we will be supportive.

Q. We have seen the leaders of the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour here this week. Did the club extend an invitation to Greg Norman in his capacity as LIV's commissioner, and what considerations went into whatever decisions you all reached?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: We did not extend an invitation to Mr. Norman. The primary issue and the driver there is that I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition, on the great players that are participating, the greatest players in the world, which, by our decision in December, we ensured that we were going to honor and be consistent with our invitation criteria.

I would also add that, in the last ten years, Greg Norman has only been here twice, and I believe one of those was as a commentator for Sirius Radio.

It really was to keep the focus on the competition.

Q. In recent years, amateurs have received more exemptions into professional events. Can you share your thoughts on the current state of amateur golf and what led to the decision to make sure that NCAA champions were here at the Masters?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Well, I think it would be hard not to acknowledge that amateur sports as a whole are evolving. Certainly there's no -- amateur golf is no exception. But I do still believe that there is an important place for amateur golf in this country. Most golfers are amateurs. Most golfers will not have the ability nor the desire to make golf their profession.

It really goes back to our roots, and that is that Bobby Jones was the greatest amateur of all time. He believed in the importance of amateurs in the Masters. I had the personal experience of enjoying that on three different occasions, and I can tell you that it changed my life. We are very proud and pleased to give this to seven players.

And as it relates to the NCAA Champion, as I stated, that is a major Amateur Championship, and I thought it was time that we acknowledged it. And we couldn't be happier to have Gordon here this week. He's a fine young man and a heck of a player. We are codifying that now going forward.

Q. The majority of the players I would say who have been in the room this week have suggested more often than not they will be laying up on the 13th this week. Do you have any concerns we won't see as much drama or excitement on that hole as we have in previous years?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: I think a lot of that really depends on the weather. Anecdotally, I mean, I have information from several players who have played practice rounds in the fall and early spring. I played two weeks ago with Scottie Scheffler; he hit a 5-iron into the hole one day. So while I think you may be right that the data will show that more players will lay up, I think for a still large number who will go for the green in two, I think it's going to be a much more challenging and a much more exciting shot.

And I certainly look forward on Sunday to having someone in competition with a 3- or 4-iron in their hand or even a hybrid hitting their shot into the 13th hole rather than an 8-iron. I think on balance it's going to prove to be the right decision.

Q. The qualification changes we'll see in a little while are regarding PGA TOUR, and many of the qualifications are sort of in partnership with the PGA TOUR. Has there been any consideration for other pathways for some other world tours, like Europe or Japan, to get in other than just the World Rankings?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Yeah, we actually have discussed that, and that may well be something we do in the future. We really want to make sure that the Masters Tournament field is representative of the best players in the world, so we are constantly looking at those possibilities.

Our conclusion for the time being is that the Official World Golf Rankings, it's a really good way to invite players. It's an objective criteria based on data-driven analytics, and it's consistently applied. I think most would agree it's a good system.

Q. Back in December you used the words, "Regrettably, diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it," and you said were disappointed, presumably because of the golfers who left their jobs and went into business with the Saudis responsible for 9/11, the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, terrible, abysmal human rights violations. So now they are here, obviously. You have 18 here. The picture last night was six of them. Are you at all concerned that you are actually helping the Saudis sportswash because of their joy in seeing a picture like that last night? Are you helping them actually sportswash their reputation?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Well, let me go back -- let me go back to our statement -- that was a long question, Christine, but I'll try to start from the beginning.

Our statement in December, and particularly the comment that these actions had diminished the virtues of the game, I want to make a couple points. The first is I know many of these players who are no longer on the PGA TOUR. Some of them I would consider friends. So anything I might say is not a comment, a personal comment, against their character or anything else.

What I was trying to point out, and I alluded to it in my comments, the platform that these players have built their careers on were based on the blood, sweat and tears of their predecessors, people like Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods.

I had the privilege of being a member, a partner in a law firm that's 180 years old, and we exist today because of many generations of lawyers who thought it was important to leave our organization better than they found it. So this is just my personal opinion. Doesn't mean that everyone has to think this way.

So my comment in December was really more that I was expressing some disappointment that these players were taking the platform that had been given to them -- that they rightly had earned success on, by the way -- and moving to another opportunity, perhaps not thinking about who might come behind them.

As relates to your comment about sportswashing, I certainly have a general understanding of the term. I think, you know, it's for others to decide exactly what that means. These were personal decisions of these players, which I, you know, at a high level, don't necessarily agree with, but it really wasn't intended to go beyond that.

Q. A little bit on that topic of players. Have many players come to you and asked you about what the distance issue has meant in terms of cost and burden for this golf course and the way it plays compared to when you first played it? Because many have been very critical. I'm just curious if many have asked you questions, or if you have been able to explain to them some of the more difficult elements to the topic of distance.

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Yeah, I mean, I think the players who I have spoken with would be no surprise to you, it's been players that have been pretty consistent over the years, not just as it relates to Augusta National, but just as to the issue of distance generally and how they feel about it.

I've read some of the recent comments about the Model Local Rule, and there are certainly a number of players who have voiced opposition to it. I'm sure there are reasons for those opinions. I would also say that equally, on the other side, there are some notable players that have some pretty strong opinions that this is the right thing to do.

In our case, my focus has always been on this competition and on the Augusta National Golf Course. Augusta National for many years, for decades, when I played in the tournament in 1976, '77 and '78, it was about 6,900 yards. When Tiger Woods won the tournament in 1997 for the first time, it was about that distance. It wasn't until a few years later that, you know, the distance was increased. I think once maybe a year after in '98 and then more particularly and significantly in 2002.

I think what's happened since then is while those appeared to be sort of very significant changes, and they were at the time, but over the years, players have gotten stronger. Their swings have become more efficient. The equipment has gotten better. And so it didn't take long, if at all, to catch up to those changes.

And I suspect the same thing will happen here. And I'm saying -- I will say that regardless of what ultimately happens with the Model Local Rule.

So yes, I do listen to players. We had a great evening last night at the Champions Dinner, and as I do every year, I solicited the input of all of our champions. I told them that we typically don't take a lot of suggestions, but they have the license to feel free to do so (laughter).

So I hope some more of them will talk to me.

Q. Mr. Chairman, two times in your opening remarks and then your response to Gary, you mentioned that you wanted distance addressed. Financially, if you were required to make your own ball because the manufacturers would not, would you do it?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: I don't think that's a practical solution. I mean, I know -- I'm very familiar with Hootie Johnson's comments, as you all are, about 20 years ago. I think Hootie was trying to make a point; that that's something that, if we decided we wanted to do it, we could do it. But I don't think it's a practical solution.

Q. Mr. Chairman, something that Scott actually alluded to, but you are also a part of the OWGR board, the Augusta National. The thing is that in the past one year or so, it has become so PGA TOUR-centric that there are just about three players from DP World Tour who are part of the Top-50 and none from Japanese Tour, Asian Tour, Australian Tour, any other place. And that's why it becomes very important that what you're saying, the changes of qualification criteria, if you so strongly believe in the fact that the OWGR is in the right place. I just wanted to know, how can these players now, without getting into the Top-50, Top-60 in the world, how can they get into the Masters Tournament?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Well, I think that illustrates one of the big issues of the topic of the day, and that is, you know, what pathways are there on these tours to move up the ladder, if I understand your question correctly.

While we strongly believe the World Rankings is a good way to measure success and eligibility for tournaments, yeah, you do raise a good question, and I had a question just a minute ago relating similar to that about considering top players from other tours. And we'll do that. We've talked about it in the past. I'm not saying we're going to make any changes in that regard, but we will consider that.

I do think that one of the things that realistically we have to think about is we have to look at the -- I mean, I realize this is sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy, but we have to realize the strength of fields in those other tours. From time to time, you'll have someone break out, you know, do something significant enough perhaps to get in a higher level tournament, and then the progression continues.

I think one of the answers long term is to develop the game in those regions on where there are more and more players and more and more good players. I mean, a good example of that, I think, at the amateur level has been the two championships that we're involved with with the R&A and the USGA.

We have seen the same pattern happen in Asia, and it's now happening in Latin America, and that is that the first couple of years in Asia, there were some really good players at the very top of the field, but it wasn't very deep. It's now where -- perhaps early on there were eight players who could win; there are probably now 28 players who can win, and the bottom of the field is getting stronger.

We said when we got started in Latin America we hoped that same projection and trajectory would take place in Latin America, and it has. You just have to look at the college ranks. We had I think 43 players in the field in Puerto Rico who were playing collegiate golf in the United States.

So the real solution, I think, is to grow the game in these areas, produce better golfers for these tours that will then legitimize consideration of performance on those tours to get into bigger tournaments.

But it's something we think about a lot.

Q. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to ask a follow-up on the Greg Norman question earlier. Greg spoke in Australia last week, and he said, "I don't think I'll ever be welcomed back at Augusta." Can I get your response to that?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: I'm not sure I understood that.

Q. Greg spoke to the Australian media last week, Greg Norman, and said he doesn't think he'll ever be welcomed back here at Augusta.

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Are you asking will he ever be welcomed back?

Q. Yes. I just want to get your response to that.

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: I mean, it's hard to answer that question because, you know, I don't know where the world is going to be next year or two years from now. But as I stated, I would say -- I would never say never. But I told you why he had not been invited this year.

I think that, as I said in my comments, I'm hopeful; I noticed -- I've noticed a tone -- the tone has been really good here this week. I've noticed the players are interacting. Last night at the Champions Dinner, I would not have known that anything was going on in the world of professional golf other than the norm. So I think, and I'm hopeful, that this week might get people thinking in a little bit different direction and things will change.

So I would never say never, no.

Q. Mr. Chairman, my interest is in the green jacket itself, and I wonder, you referenced your three appearances as an amateur. I wonder if the club asked you for your measurements, for your jacket measurements when you were an amateur, and do you have any personal stories about the green jacket itself?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: My wife tells me I'm hard of hearing, and I think she's probably right, I'm sorry. (Laughter).

Q. Did they ask for your measurements?

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Well, you know, I have a lot of reflections. We don't have enough time, you know, in this press conference for me to give all of them to you.

You know, one of -- the first day I was chairman, our staff, our senior staff and people in the office came into my office with this framed picture of me walking down one of the fairways during the 1976 Masters with Jack Nicklaus, and I had never seen that picture before. It's sort of been all over the place since then. And it was because we digitized all our photographs, it had this incredible clarity as if it was taken the week before.

And so certainly that day, that day with Jack, was something I'll remember. Fortunately I knew him a little bit, so it wasn't quite as daunting teeing it up with him, but it was still pretty daunting. I remember he shot 67 that day and hit 17 greens and 2-putted every par 5 for a birdie or a birdie somewhere else. But I remember we played eight holes, and I just birdied the 8th hole to go 1-under to tie him at 1-under for the moment, and we got to the 9th hole and I hit a really good drive. I was starting to feel a little bit cocky. And so I turned and made eye contact with Jack, like, okay. (Laughter) he sort of smiled, teed it up and hit it about 50 yards past me (laughter) and then he kind of looked at me and winked.

But I have a lot of great memories. Staying in the Crow's Nest, it was really the beginning of my relationship with the club, and I've been here every year since then.

Q. I was thinking of the garment itself, the actual green jacket; if you have any memories. Obviously you won one.

CHAIRMAN FRED S. RIDLEY: Yeah, I remember I was really happy when I got one (laughter).

But the green jacket does have a great history. You know, I think it's a story that we have tried to tell a little more -- in a little more detail in the recent years, and as you know, we have dedicated a part of our golf shop to the story of the green jacket, and it's something that not only it's a privilege to wear one but it's something certainly -- I know there were about 32 people in a room last night that value that very much.

I think that we talk about all these issues in golf, but we are here this week, these 88 players, that's all that's on their mind is playing for that green jacket. It's a great symbol of celebration of this game, and we're looking forward to seeing someone donning it on Sunday afternoon.

THE MODERATOR: On that note, that concludes our press conference. Thank you for your time today, and enjoy the 87th Masters Tournament.