Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has confirmed that next year’s Masters tournament will take place on schedule despite huge devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Georgia governor Brian Kemp said the storm “literally spared no-one,” and the state of Georgia was very much on the hit list as the category 4 hurricane tore through Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia with deaths reported in all states.
At the time, Augusta National released a statement saying damage had been caused to the golf club but the immediate concern was with assisting the wider community in recovery.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan, Ridley reiterated that point but did vow that the Masters would go ahead as planned from April 10-13.
“Back to one of the first questions… the Masters will be held, [and] it will be on the dates it’s scheduled to be held,” Ridley said.
Augusta National had already closed in May for its annual summer break but had been due to open later this month before Hurricane Helene struck.
“As far as the golf course, it really was affected just as the rest of the community was,” Ridley added.
“There was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get us back up and running.
“We’ve been able to take care of our employees, but we’ve also been focused on what the Red Cross and other organisations are doing in Augusta, and our employees really have been a big part of that, which I think really speaks for them and the culture at the club.
“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.”
Scottie Scheffler is the defending Masters champion after claiming his second Green Jacket last year.
The winner of this week’s Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at the Taiheiyo Club will earn an invitation to next year’s Masters and the 2025 Open Championship in Royal Portrush.