Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said Thursday he was confident the Masters would be played in April as planned despite the storied golf course suffering “significant damage” on Friday from Hurricane Helene.
The 89th Masters is scheduled for April 10-13.
“I am sure that the Masters will be held, it will be held on the dates it is scheduled to be held,” Ridley told reporters during a press conference at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan.
At least 189 people have died as a result of Hurricane Helene, according to the Associated Press. A Category 4 storm hit Florida’s Big Bend region last week, causing extensive damage in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It is the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
Augusta experienced tropical-storm-force winds Friday morning. According to the National Weather Service, an 82 mph wind gust was observed at the Augusta Regional Airport. First responders reported that trees fell on multiple homes, vehicles and roads in the area.
“As for the golf course, it was really affected as was the whole community. … There was a lot of damage, and we have a lot of people working hard to get it back up and running,” Ridley. said. “We don’t really know what that will mean, but I can tell you … if it’s humanely possible, we’ll be back in business sooner rather than later.”
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