How Masters will look after ‘devastating event,’ according to Augusta chairman

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley says he thinks players and patrons won’t see any difference in the conditions at this year’s tournament, following the hurricane that struck the course last September.

But gone from the course, Ridley said, are an unspecified number of trees. 

Ridley’s comments came Thursday at Pilar Golf Club in Argentina, the host of this week’s Latin America Amateur Championship, an event founded by the Masters, the USGA and the R&A. Ridley had been asked how Hurricane Helene had affected Augusta National, and how it would affect the Masters, which starts April 10. 

“As far as the impact, the long‑term impact, we have not quite as many trees as we did a year ago,” Ridley said. “As far as the golf course goes, it’s in spectacular condition. I think we had minor damage to the course, the playing surfaces themselves, but we were able to get that back in shape, but I don’t think you’re going to see any difference in the condition for the Masters this year.”

In his response, Ridley said he was also proud of how Augusta National responded after the storm. 

“Hurricane Helene,” he said, “was really a devastating event for the Augusta community and for a number of communities in the Southeast, particularly in western North Carolina, which I know you probably read about. We suffered a fair amount of impact from the hurricane and as did the entire community. 

“I think what I’m the most proud of is the response of our entire organization to that natural disaster, which is really what it was. And not only what they did to get Augusta National back in shape, but as importantly, how they pitched in with the Augusta community and really helped out because there were many, many people — many of our people were out of their homes for a number of weeks. No electricity.  The community didn’t have water for a while. So, I’m just really proud of how our entire organization responded to that.”

Ridley’s comments followed those given in releases on Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, and in a press conference on Oct. 2. The former noted that damage at Augusta National was being assessed after Helene tore through the region, bringing strong winds and severe flooding and leaving thousands of Augusta residents without power.  

The Oct. 3 statement said that Augusta National, in a partnership with the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area, was donating $5 million toward the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund. The release also said Augusta National was making a contribution to support the response and recovery efforts led by the American Red Cross and other local community partners.  

“I was in Augusta in the days immediately after the storm and have seen firsthand its devastating impact,” Ridley said in that statement. “Our employees, neighbors, friends and business owners need — and deserve — immediate and meaningful assistance to overcome the hardships being experienced at this moment throughout Augusta. 

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“Augusta National and the Community Foundation each take to heart our obligation to care for our community. Our goal is to make a difference when it’s needed the most, and our hope is that our gift may inspire others to assist or ask how they may contribute to this critical mission.” 

On Oct. 2 in Japan, as first reported by Golf Digest’s Evin Priest, Ridley also said that Masters date would not change. He was speaking at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, an event founded by the Masters, the R&A and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation. 

“As far as the golf course, it really was affected just as the rest of the community was,” Ridley said in response to a question. “There was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get us back up and running. We don’t really know exactly what that’s going to mean, but I can tell you, if it’s humanly possible, we will be back in business sooner rather than later.”

Notably, Augusta National has previously sustained weather damage. A powerful ice storm struck down the club’s famed Eisenhower Tree in the winter of 2014, and a thunderstorm during the 2023 Masters sent a pair of trees tumbling over the 17th tee. No injuries were sustained in either event.