Despite the damage to Augusta National, the Masters will not be delayed, the chairman said

As the Southeast reels from Hurricane Helene — the deadliest hurricane to hit the US mainland in nearly two decades — another phase of disaster is about to begin.

Some cities have been destroyed, some are inaccessible, some have no electricity and water, and the work of searching and rescuing those who still need help is still going on.

In Augusta, Ga., many are struggling to get the basics of food, water and electricity. Others still lack proper shelter. I Washington Post he recently spent time in Augusta to report on relief efforts, and on Wednesday US Vice President Kamala Harris visited the city.

Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, sent out a statement over the weekend.

“Our Augusta community has suffered a tragic and historic loss as a result of Hurricane Helene,” said Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National, in a statement. “We are currently evaluating the results at Augusta National Golf Club. Right now our focus and efforts are on our employees, neighbors and business owners in Augusta. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and everyone affected throughout Georgia and the Southeast.”

A few days later and worldwide at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan – an event hosted by Augusta National and the R&A – Ridley spoke to the media and gave another update.

“What I'm most proud of is that while everyone was focused on getting us up, back and working, our staff was very focused on the community as a whole,” Ridley said Thursday morning, according to the report. Golf Digest. “We've been able to take care of our employees, but we've also focused on what the Red Cross and other organizations are doing in Augusta, and our employees have been a big part of that, which I think really speaks volumes. to them and the culture of the club.”

Ridley added that the golf course was affected as was the rest of the community, and that “there was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get it back up and running.”

Ridley also said the club “will be back in business very soon,” and “[the Masters] it will be on the days it is scheduled to be held.”

The 2025 Masters is scheduled for April 10-13.

While Augusta National's tight-lipped culture and the golf course's largely hidden presence among towering pines means we'll likely see little evidence of damage, some photos and videos have circulated on social media.

Josh Behow

Golf.com Editor

As managing editor of GOLF.com, Berhow manages the day-to-day and long-term programming of one of the most widely read news and service websites in the sport. He spends most of his days writing, planning, organizing and wondering if he will ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and two children. You can reach him at [email protected].