Fred Ridley Facts: 22 Things You Didn't Know About The Augusta National Chairman

Fred Ridley is the current chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and consequently, The Masters tournament. He is regularly seen at the very start of the prestigious championship as well as at the end when the Green Jacket and Masters trophy are presented. Below are some facts about his life and career to this point.

Fred Ridley: Facts about Augusta National chairman

1. Ridley was born in Lakeland and was raised in Winter Haven, two cities in to the west of Orlando, Florida. He currently resides in Tampa.

2. His middle name is Scobie.

3. Ridley is six foot tall (1.83m).

4. He is a commercial real estate lawyer and a partner in the international law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP.

5. Ridley received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Stetson University College of Law.

6. He and his wife Elizabeth 'Betsy' Herndon have three daughters, Maggie, Libby and Sydney, and two grandchildren.

7. Ridley enjoyed a distinguished career in amateur golf, having won the 1975 United States Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Virginia. He is the last US Amateur champion never to have turned professional.

8. He also competed in 10 US Amateur competitions.

9. He is the first chairman of Augusta National who has played in the Masters Tournament. He played in the event as an amateur (1976-78).

10. Ridley competed in three Masters (1976-78), one US Open (1976) and one Open Championship (1976) but missed the cut in each.

11. He was a playing member of the 1976 US World Amateur team and the 1977 US Walker Cup team.

12. Ridley beat future Masters and Open champion Sandy Lyle twice during the 1977 Walker Cup at Shinnecock Hills, where the USA beat GB&I 16-8.

13. He was Hal Sutton's manager during his time working under legendary agent Mark McCormack at IMG.

14. He was the non-playing captain of the 1987 and 1989 U.S. Walker Cup teams. His side won away at Sunningdale, England in '87 but lost at Peach Tree Golf Club in Georgia in '89. He also captained the 2010 US World Amateur team.

15. Ridley served on the USGA Executive Committee from 1994-2005 and was elected as the 58th president of the USGA from 2004-05.

16. Ridley has been a member at Augusta National since 2000.

17. In 2005 he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. He did so as a 'Distinguished Letterwinner'.

18. Ridley was elected the seventh Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament on August 22, 2017. He succeeded Billy Payne.

19. During his annual press conference at the 2018 Masters, Ridley announced the creation of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, with the inaugural championship taking place the week prior to the 2019 Masters.

20. He vowed in 2019 to not change The Masters' cell phone policy during his time as chairman. "I don't believe that's a policy that anyone should expect is going to change in the near future, if ever," he said. "I can't speak for future chairmen, but speaking for myself, I think we got that right."

21. He has reportedly made a hole-in-one on the 16th at Augusta as well as an albatross on the par-5 15th.

22. When plans for a golf ball rollback were confirmed in 2024, Ridley supported them due to concerns that Augusta National may "one day reach the 8,000 yard mark."

Fred Ridley Bio

What is Fred Ridley's net worth?

Ridley's net worth is difficult to estimate. Along with being chairman of Augusta National in which he gets paid a salary, we believe he is also still a partner in the international law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP.

Additionally, given how many wealthy and powerful people are members at Augusta National, it would not be surprising if he had other business interests too. Of course a lot of this is not in the public domain and as such a specific net worth amount can vary.