Masters chief issues subtle warning to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has welcomed Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's new golf league. 

But the Masters chief hopes the special nature of golf doesn't get lost amid a sea of change in the sport. 

Woods and McIlroy's TGL launched on January 7, with the 15-time major champion declaring: "We are taking golf into another stratosphere."

Back down on planet earth, the jury is still out on whether the hi-tech league will prove to be a success. 

Ridley was asked for his opinion on the new venture at his annual news conference before the Latin America Amateur Championship. 

Whilst Ridley, 72, welcomed new ventures like TGL, he warned: "We don't want golf to become like every other sport."

What does he mean?

Ridley continued: "I think it's important to remember to think about what makes golf so special.

"Why do we think all of us who love the game? 

"Why do we think it's the greatest sport, and it's different than other sports? 

"A lot of it has to do with the history and integrity of the game. You play by the rules. You call the rules on yourself. 

"The honour of the game. The camaraderie that's created by playing golf. 

"I think as we try to expand the fan base, we need to keep that north star in sight because we don't want golf to become like every other sport. 

"I think that's a really important thing to think about."

Update on Hurricane damage

Ridley also told reporters the 2025 Masters Tournament will go ahead as scheduled, despite the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. 

Footage that was widely shared on social media in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane showed several trees toppled. 

But Ridley said Augusta National is, and will be, in immaculate condition by 10 April. 

"As far as the impact, the long-term impact, we have not quite as many trees as we did a year ago," said Ridley.

"As far as the golf course goes, it's in spectacular condition.

"I think we had minor damage to the course, the playing surfaces themselves, but we were able to get that back in shape, but I don't think you're going to see any difference in the condition for the Masters this year."

He added: "Hurricane Helene was really a devastating event for the Augusta community and for a number of communities in the southeast, particularly in western North Carolina

"We suffered a fair amount of impact from the hurricane, as did the entire community.

"I think what I'm the most proud of is the response of our entire organisation to that natural disaster, which is really what it was.

"Not only what they did to get Augusta National back in shape, but as importantly, how they pitched in with the Augusta community and really helped out because there were many, many people, many of our people were out of their homes for a number of weeks. No electricity. The community didn’t have water for a while.

"I'm just really proud of how our entire organisation responded to that."

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