Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National, has pledged that next year’s Masters will proceed as planned despite substantial devastation inflicted by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane, which categorized as a level 4 storm, made landfall in northern Florida last week and rapidly progressed northward causing fatalities in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, emphasised that the tempest had shown no mercy, leaving most individuals in the surrounding areas of Augusta, a city near the South Carolina boundary with a population of approximately 200,000, without electricity.
In a press briefing preceding the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan, Ridley underlined Augusta National’s commitment to aiding the broader community recover from the destruction, while also broaching the subject of the Masters.
Golf Digest reported Ridley’s assured statement at the press conference: “The Masters will be conducted; it will transpire on the scheduled dates”. The Masters for 2025, where Scottie Scheffler is anticipated to defend his title, is slated for April 10-13.
Ridley revealed how the golf course too bore witness to the extreme damage caused by the storm, much like the rest of the community. Efforts are underway to resume normal operations, with numerous people working tirelessly on the restoration.
While attention has been given to ensuring the welfare of Augusta National employees, the club’s focus also lies with the work being done by groups such as the Red Cross in Augusta. Ridley praised the active involvement and community spirit of the employees in this context.