Masters chief defiant after true scale of destruction laid bare at Augusta

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has confirmed the 2025 Masters will go ahead, despite extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

Ben Smith

18 Oct 2024

Drone footage filmed more than two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Big Bend has laid bare how much destruction was caused at the home of The Masters.

Augusta National was hit by the devastating storm on 27 September that claimed the lives of 230 people and left thousands homeless.

It was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region and the deadliest to hit mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.

Footage filmed and shared on X by EurekaEarthPlus has shown the size of the task facing Masters organisers between now and next April.

The 2025 Masters will be played over 7-13 April.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is the reigning champion.

The footage, which you can watch at the bottom of this page, shows as many as five trees strewn along the course near Amen Corner.

There is also extensive damage around iconic 16th hole.

It was the scene of Tiger Woods' famous chip-in at the 2005 Masters.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley confirmed a few weeks ago that The Masters will go ahead as planned.

Ridley conceded Augusta sustained 'a lot of damage', adding: "We have been without power and water and other essentials for a number of days.

"So it really does impress upon you what can happen when there's a natural disaster such as that.

"As far as the golf course, it really was affected just as the rest of the community was … there was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get us back up and running."

We recently had drone () footage of ACC, ‘the club next door,’ shared with us.

We’ll let you draw your own conclusions… pic.twitter.com/EwjcFZyLcA
— Eureka Earth® (@EurekaEarthPlus) October 17, 2024

Ridley also revealed that Augusta National had donated $5m towards the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund.

"I was in Augusta in the days immediately after the storm and have seen firsthand its devastating impact," Ridley said.

"Our employees, neighbours, friends and business owners need, and deserve, immediate and meaningful assistance to overcome the hardships being experienced at this moment throughout Augusta."

He added: "Augusta National and the Community Foundation each take to heart our obligation to care for our community.

"Our goal is to make a difference when it's needed the most, and our hope is that our gift may inspire others to assist or ask how they may contribute to this critical mission."