Augusta National chairman talks problems in golf, LIV-PGA situation
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WSAV) — Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club always marks the chairman's press conference.
The current chairman, Fred S. Ridley provided several bits of information in the 40 minutes he was in front of the media.
The chairman started by talking about the hard work it took to get the course back to playing shape after the impacts of Hurricane Helene in September.
Then he gave an update on the Players Services Project. He said phase one is complete, which was the underground parking garage for the players. Phase two, which is the three-level, state-of-the-art building is still on schedule.
He also addressed problems with the game of golf, which he is keeping an eye on. The first is distance and the other is pace of play.
'I am encouraged that the PGA Tour is doing some things, experimenting with some timing procedures that might be a little more aggressive than we've seen in the past,' Ridley said. 'Golf's a special game because it requires us to be considerate while also being competitive, respecting other people's time, including importantly, the fans who support the game is a fundamental courtesy.'
He was asked about, arguably, the most pressing issue in golf right now: The current state of the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV golf.
'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.'
Also in the presser, Chairman Ridley said this week is the 50th anniversary of the first African American playing in the Masters tournament. On April 10, 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black professional golfer to play in the Masters. Jack Nicklaus would go on to win the tournament.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WATCH: WTWO/WAWV live in Indianapolis for the NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Our sports team of Garrett Drake and Grant Pugh was in Indianapolis to cover game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Garrett and Grant discussed the impact of Indianapolis hosting a final game for the first time in 25 years, as well as whether the underdog Indiana Pacers can take the lead in the series tonight, which is currently tied 1-1. You can check out all of our live looks at the action before tip off at 8:30 p.m. by checking out the videos here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC Sports
28 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
USGA says it's not necessary to test everyone's driver at events
Ahead of the U.S. Open, Fred Perpall, Mike Whan and John Bodenhamer of the USGA address weather concerns, the "dense" rough at Oakmont, why drivers fail testing, the USGA's next media rights deal and more. OAKMONT, Pa. – Driver testing for characteristic time, or CT, became a headline at last month's PGA Championship when Rory McIlroy's driver was deemed nonconforming just days before the year's second major, and it was later learned that world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler's driver also failed the test, which essentially measures the 'springiness' of the driver face. Whether driver testing becomes a talking point again this week remains to be seen, but the USGA is forging ahead with testing at the U.S. Open. According to John Bodenhamer, the USGA's chief championships officer, about a third of the field, a little more than 50 players, were tested this week at Oakmont. The USGA does not publish the results of the testing. 'There's nothing to suggest there are a ton of drivers that are over the limit,' said Thomas Pagel, the association's chief governance officer. 'It's less than a handful.' Following his victory at the PGA Championship, Scheffler said he'd like to see more 'robust' testing and that the current process only goes 'halfway.' Since the PGA Championship, many players have called for an all-or-nothing approach to driver testing and protocols that would either test the entire field at a particular event or no one. 'We test them throughout the year and don't think it's necessary [to test every driver each week],' said Bodenhamer. 'It would be difficult, from a time perspective, to test every driver and we don't want to be too intrusive.' Currently, a player's driver is tested about three times a year at various events on the PGA Tour or at major championships, and logistically it would be a challenge to test the entire field at this week's U.S. Open with 156 players and each test lasting about 15 to 20 minutes. Instead, the USGA, along with the game's other stakeholders, contends more comprehensive testing isn't necessary based on the number of drivers that fail the CT testing. Rex Hoggard, 'We think the testing that we're doing is commensurate with both the degree of failure that we see, which is pretty minimal, and quite frankly, when we see failure, at least currently, we're seeing clubs just literally creep over the line,' said USGA CEO Mike Whan. 'It's a line we draw — we aren't seeing when we're taking drivers off, drivers that are, oh, my gosh, look where that one went [over the limit].' Some players also questioned the testing protocols, pointing out that there is no testing for CT, or creep, at LIV Golf events. The USGA, which administers CT testing at Tour events and the PGA Championship, does not test drivers at LIV events but Pagel said 'any tour, men or women, who reaches out for support, we would support.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Chase Johnson, only black player in US Open field, looks to grow game with APGA Tour
OAKMONT, Pa. — If you're looking for a lesser-known player for whom to root at this week's U.S. Open, Chase Johnson isn't a bad option. Johnson, who competes on the Advocates Professional Golf Association, a circuit that provides opportunities for minority players, got into the field as the last of the 156 in it. Advertisement He was involved in a five-for-one playoff for the last spot at the Columbus, Ohio, final qualifier, but ended up as the first alternate — ahead of PGA Tour winners Eric Cole, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler. He got into the field when Bud Cauley became fully exempt via the Top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of June 9. Cauley was one of the six qualifiers in Columbus. Advertisement With Tiger Woods his idol growing up, it's not lost on Johnson that he's the only black player in the field this week. 'That's one of the missions of the APGA Tour, which is great,'' Johnson said. 'I was able to kind of rebuild my platform a little bit out there on that tour starting in 2023, after I lost my Korn Ferry Tour card. Guys are getting great out there, and Willie Mack [another APGA player] played in the Open last year and qualified. 'It's just a matter of time. Like all these Pathway guys, like their version of PGA TOUR U, is developing some really strong players. We're going to keep on working on it, but hopefully I can continue to build my platform and build that platform for other players to just continue to grow the game.'' Chase Johnson, who qualified for the U.S. Open, hits a shot on the 13th tee during his June 11, 2025 practice round. Getty Images Advertisement Johnson wasn't daunted at playing against established PGA Tour players in the qualifier because he's played against these players since he was a youth. 'I definitely was the underdog in the playoff, but I didn't feel it like that way at all,'' he said. 'We all played together on Korn Ferry for two years. Then being on the Cobra Puma team, I've gotten to know Rickie to a certain extent over the last couple years, and then did an event for Tiger's Jr. Invitational last fall with Max. So. there was some familiarity with all the players.' Johnson noted he's even competed against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Chase Johnson Johnson competes on the Advocates Professional Golf Association, a circuit that provides opportunities for minority players. Getty Images Advertisement 'Scottie and I are the same age, and I've been playing against him since we were juniors,'' he said. 'Obviously, he's figured something out a lot quicker than I did. But eventually I'll get to the point that I want to be at.''
