Sawt Falasteen - No direct LIV path to Masters but Ridley wants one elite tour

Ridley also said he hopes to see golf's best players reunited in one series, with a solution to the divide between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League.

Saudi Arabia's Pubic Investment Fund (PIF) has been unable to complete a 2023 framework deal to invest in the PGA Tour, reports saying the future of LIV Golf is among the sticking points to a deal.

With the divide dragging on for years, the main issue for golf fans, Ridley included, is when the world's best golfers will be able to play each other more often than at the majors.

"I think we all agree that four times a year is not enough to have the great players of the game together," Ridley said, noting, "We talk about reunification all the time."

There are 12 LIV players at the Masters.

The US Golf Association and the R&A have created a qualification category for LIV Golf players to ensure a path into fields for the US and British Opens, a safeguard over concerns about LIV's 54-hole events not garnering world ranking points.

Ridley said the Masters is satisfied that it can ensure worthy LIV players are in its field through special invitations such as the one given to Chile's Joaquin Niemann this year.

"As it relates to the USGA and the R&A, they certainly act independently. We respect their decisions. We are an invitational tournament. We have historically considered special cases for invitations," Ridley said.

"We feel we can deal with that issue, whether it's a LIV player or a player on some other tour that might not otherwise be eligible for an invitation, that we can handle that with a special invitation."

Ridley also said the Masters will examine qualification procedures again after this year's tournament.

Ridley stayed away from the ongoing talks between PGA Tour officials and LIV Golf's backers.

"I'm not really in a position to say what form that should take as far as how the two organizations should come together," Ridley said.

"What I would do, and what I am doing... is to encourage cooperation and trying to figure out a way to get something done, regardless of what the structure of it is, where everyone can play together again.

"I'm going to continue to be saying that and encouraging the leaders of the organizations involved to try to work together to come up with a solution."

To that end, Scott O'Neill, LIV Golf's chief executive officer, was invited to this week's Masters.

"Although I don't have any specific plans to meet with him, I know that we will have some discussions with him and we're happy that he's here," Ridley said.

Ridley unveiled plans for a new player services building with a family dining area as well as fitness, physio and locker rooms that is on pace for a 2026 debut.

- Elder's legacy endures -

He also noted Thursday's opening day of the Masters also marks the 50th anniversary of Lee Elder becoming the first Black player to compete in the Masters.

"Lee's inspiration, his courage and spirit remain truly an inspiration for all of us," Ridley said. "We never will forget his enduring legacy that made golf a better game for everyone."

Ridley also praised the "monumental effort" of club employees to help after the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene last September.

"What they did in the community was something I'll always remember," Ridley said. "Our employees were out in the community distributing food, cleaning up debris and donating food and money to help others in their time of need."

R.Halabi--SF-PST