Fred Ridley

Fred Scobie Ridley (born August 16, 1952) is an American amateur golfer and golf administrator. Ridley won the U.S. Amateur in 1975, was elected president of the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 2004, and became chairman of Augusta National Golf Club in 2017.

Early life and education Fred Scobie Ridley was born on August 16, 1952, in Lakeland, Florida. 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. He defeated Keith Fergus in the 36-hole final, having beaten Curtis Strange and Andy Bean in previous rounds of the match-play championship. At the end of 1975 Ridley was ranked the #2 amateur in the country by Golf Digest.

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.

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. He has also served as co-chairman of the International Golf Federation. He had been elected as a member of the executive board, treasurer, vice president of the USGA, and has also served as the chairman of the USGA's Championship Committee, Amateur Status and Conduct Committee, and International Team Selection Committee.

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. Ridley took over when the club reopened for its 2017–18 season on October 16, 2017. 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. He is married to the former Elizabeth ("Betsy") Herndon, a fellow University of Florida graduate. They have three daughters.

Amateur wins 1975 U.S. Amateur 1976 Monroe Invitational

Results in major championships Tournament 1976 1977 1978Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUT 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)