Fred Ridley vs. Brian Rolapp could prove interesting — if Rolapp goes there
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Echoes of Dwight Eisenhower are as ubiquitous at Augusta National as azalea cocktails and preening executives. His eponymous cabin, built for lengthy sojourns from the White House, remains standing by the clubhouse.
His tree on the 17th hole was lost to an ice storm in 2014, but his pond is there on the Par-3 Course. Yet, flickers of Ike were less tangible than philosophical during Wednesday’s press conference by Augusta National’s chairman, Fred Ridley. “The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist,” Eisenhower said in his 1961 Farewell Address.
Ridley, too, seems conscious of power misplaced — in the hands of players (eager to get more of whatever is going), executives (hungry for internal wins) and equipment manufacturers (keen to stall or kill any action against their products). On Wednesday, the chairman raised a manicured eyebrow at all of them. Ridley opened by name-checking the many projects Augusta National is involved with.
Like The Patch, the muni across town that the club has refurbished, while also adding a short course. Or the TGR Learning Lab they’re establishing nearby with Tiger Woods. Or the myriad amateur events created or underwritten — the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the Latin America and Asia Pacific events, the Drive, Chip and Putt.
It was a none-too-subtle reminder that the revenue tsunami generated by the Masters floats many boats, that the commitments of Augusta National extend far beyond ensuring that professional golfers are handsomely compensated. More: 5 takeaways from Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley's news conference This year, for the first time, Masters invitations have been extended to the winners of six national Opens of historic stature. “Creating global pathways will continue to be our priority at the professional level also,” Ridley said.
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