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Fred Ridley is the only Augusta National chairman who actually played competitive rounds during the Masters, a little known stat among the seven who have chaired the famous golf club.
Playing as an amateur, Ridley appeared three straight years beginning in 1976 and failed to make the cut each time.
Here's a look at how the chairman fared during his Masters appearances, including his best scores and average to par.
Ridley appeared in the 1976, 1977 and 1978 Masters and averaged a 79.50 in the six rounds he played. He had a low round of 76 (197 ) and a high round of 84 (1978)
1976 Masters
Ridley fired rounds of 77 and 81 for a 14-over par 158. He missed the cut by eight strokes.
Champion: Raymond Floyd (17-under, 271)
1977 Masters
Ridley had rounds of 76 and 78 for a 10-over par 154. He missed the cut by five strokes.
Champion: Tom Watson (12-under, 276)
1978 Masters
Ridley shot rounds of 84 and 81 for a 21-over par 165 and placed in a tie for last among players who completed the first two rounds. He missed the cut by 16 shots.
Champion: Gary Player (11-under, 277)
Born in Lakeland, Florida, Ridley was an accomplished amateur golfer who won the 1975 U.S. Amateur. He attended the University of Florida, where he played golf, and he also played in the 1976 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Ridley has a law degree from Stetson University and a bachelor's in marketing from the University of Florida.
Ridley served as president of the United States Golf Association and became a member of Augusta National who served on the competition committee. He became chairman in 2017, succeeding Billy Payne.
He is a partner with Tampa's Foley & Lardner LLP as a national chair of Foley's Real Estate Practice as well as other roles, including Sports Industry Teams.
Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X @RyneDennis and email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Did Fred Ridley play in the Masters? How he fared at Augusta National
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Playing as an amateur, Ridley appeared three straight years beginning in 1976 and failed to make the cut each time.
Here's a look at how the chairman fared during his Masters appearances, including his best scores and average to par.
Augusta National commissioner Fred Ridley in the Masters
Ridley appeared in the 1976, 1977 and 1978 Masters and averaged a 79.50 in the six rounds he played. He had a low round of 76 (197 ) and a high round of 84 (1978)
1976 Masters
Ridley fired rounds of 77 and 81 for a 14-over par 158. He missed the cut by eight strokes.
Champion: Raymond Floyd (17-under, 271)
1977 Masters
Ridley had rounds of 76 and 78 for a 10-over par 154. He missed the cut by five strokes.
Champion: Tom Watson (12-under, 276)
1978 Masters
Ridley shot rounds of 84 and 81 for a 21-over par 165 and placed in a tie for last among players who completed the first two rounds. He missed the cut by 16 shots.
Champion: Gary Player (11-under, 277)
Who was Fred Ridley the golfer?
Born in Lakeland, Florida, Ridley was an accomplished amateur golfer who won the 1975 U.S. Amateur. He attended the University of Florida, where he played golf, and he also played in the 1976 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Ridley has a law degree from Stetson University and a bachelor's in marketing from the University of Florida.
Who is Fred Ridley outside of chairman?
Ridley served as president of the United States Golf Association and became a member of Augusta National who served on the competition committee. He became chairman in 2017, succeeding Billy Payne.
He is a partner with Tampa's Foley & Lardner LLP as a national chair of Foley's Real Estate Practice as well as other roles, including Sports Industry Teams.
Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X @RyneDennis and email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Did Fred Ridley play in the Masters? How he fared at Augusta National
Continue reading...
