Fred Ridley
Fred Ridley | |
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Personal information | |
Full name | Fred Scobie Ridley |
Born | Lakeland, Florida | August 16, 1952
Sporting nationality | United States |
Residence | Tampa, Florida |
Spouse | Elizabeth Herndon |
Children | 3 |
Career | |
College | University of Florida |
Status | Amateur |
Best results in major championships | |
Masters Tournament | CUT: 1976, 1977, 1978 |
PGA Championship | DNP |
U.S. Open | CUT: 1976 |
The Open Championship | CUT: 1976 |
Fred Ridley | |
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Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club | |
Assumed office October 16, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Billy Payne |
Fred Scobie Ridley (born August 16, 1952)
Early life and education
Fred Scobie Ridley was born on August 16, 1952, in Lakeland, Florida.[1] He attended Winter Haven High School in nearby Winter Haven, Florida.
Amateur career
Ridley attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.[3] While attending the university, he played for coach Buster Bishop's Florida Gators men's golf team and was an alternate on the Gators golf team that won the NCAA national tournament in 1973.[3] He graduated from the University of Florida's College of Business Administration with a bachelor's degree in marketing in 1974.
In 1975, Ridley won the
In 1976 he won the Monroe Invitational. He also competed in the 1976 British Open later in the year. Ridley was a member of the 1976 Eisenhower Trophy team. Late in the year he was ranked the #10 amateur in the country by Golf Digest.[7]
In 1977 he competed in the
Between 1974 and 1977 Ridley was a law student. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1977.
Later career
Ridley never turned professional. Ridley remains the last U.S. Amateur champion to have never become a professional golfer.[2] Ridley worked as a lawyer and golf administrator for most of his career.
Ridley still occasionally played notable amateur events, however. For example, Ridley played the 1987 British Amateur. He also served as captain for the American sides of the 1987 Walker Cup, 1989 Walker Cup, and the 2010 Eisenhower Trophy.
Ridley was elected president of the
Ridley, who is a member of Augusta National Golf Club, served as the competition committee chairman for 2011 Masters Tournament. On August 23, 2017, Augusta National announced that Ridley would succeed Billy Payne as chairman of the club.[12] Ridley took over when the club reopened for its 2017–18 season on October 16, 2017.[2]
Personal life
Ridley works as a commercial real estate lawyer in Tampa, Florida.[2][13] He is a partner in the law firm of Foley & Lardner, and practices in the areas of commercial real estate finance and development, planned unit development, resort development, and multifamily and condominium development.[13] He is married to the former Elizabeth ("Betsy") Herndon, a fellow University of Florida graduate. They have three daughters.[10]
Amateur wins
- 1975 U.S. Amateur
- 1976 Monroe Invitational
Results in major championships
Tournament | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 |
---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | CUT | CUT |
U.S. Open | CUT | ||
The Open Championship | CUT |
Note: Ridley never played in the PGA Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
U.S. national team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy: 1976
- Walker Cup: 1977 (winners), 1987 (winners, non-playing captain), 1989 (non-playing captain)
See also
- Florida Gators
- List of Stetson University College of Law alumni
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
References
- ^ ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
- ^ a b c d Harig, Bob (October 16, 2017). "Fred Ridley takes over as Augusta National chairman". ESPN. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ a b Florida Men's Golf 2011 Media Supplement Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 37, 40, 41 (2010). Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ Sarah Pileggi, "A Not-so-perfect Match," Sports Illustrated (September 8, 1975). Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ U.S. Amateur, Past Champions, 1975: Fred Ridley. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ John Valerino, "Ridley Has Good Reason For Smiles," The Ledger, pp. 1B & 3B (September 2, 1975). Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ a b "Dunaway Finds His Game..." The Charlotte Observer. January 30, 1977. p. 56. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ 1977 Walker Cup Match results
- ^ Christine Brennan, "Keeping Score: New USGA chief won't cut old ties," USA Today (February 4, 2004). Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ a b c International Golf Federation, Press Releases, "USGA President Fred Ridley To Serve International Golf Federation As Joint Chairman." Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ F Club, Hall of Fame, Distinguished Letterwinners. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "Payne Announces Retirement, Ridley Named Successor". Augusta National Golf Club. August 23, 2017.
- ^ a b Foley & Lardner, Our People, Fred S. Ridley Archived November 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 19, 2012.