The chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament walked a fine line in his first comments about Georgia’s new voting law.
Fred Ridley told reporters on Wednesday that voting rights are “fundamental to who we are as a people,” and while he didn’t say if he personally supported or opposed the law, Ridley explained that the legendary competition will still go on as planned.
“The right to vote is fundamental in our democratic society,” said Ridley. “No one should be disadvantaged in exercising that right, and it is critical that all citizens have confidence in the electoral process.”
“We realize that views and opinions on this law differ, and there have been calls for boycotts and other punitive measures. Unfortunately, those actions often impose the greatest burdens on the most vulnerable in our society,” Ridley said, referencing the city of about 200,000 people where the tournament is located.
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He said those residents are the “very focus of the positive difference” the golf club is trying to make.
Democrats and liberal activist groups have pushed hard for corporations to take a stand against the Georgia law, which changes some voting scheduling procedures, limits the number of absentee ballot drop box locations, and requires photo IDs in order to vote absentee by mail.
After some companies decided to condemn the legislation, they began to feel renewed pressure from the other side of the aisle.
Delta Air Lines, whose CEO sent a missive to employees calling the law “unacceptable,” is facing an amendment revoking a tax break on jet fuel that Republicans in the state House pushed through. Coca-Cola is also the target of boycotts, with former President Donald Trump leading the charge.
Major League Baseball decided last week to move its All-Star Game and 2021 draft out of Georgia in protest of the state’s new voting law, despite liberal voting rights activist Stacey Abrams urging companies not to boycott the state. Abrams has argued that the boycotts hurt the same people she alleges that the voting law would.
Ridley, who has been chairman at Augusta National since 2017, said that his personal opinion on the Georgia voting law holds no importance. He said that while he understands people may want Augusta National to disseminate a proclamation about its stance on the issue, he doesn’t think it would “be helpful to ultimately reaching a resolution.”
“I believe and I am confident that every member of this club believes that voting is an essential fundamental right in our society and that — as I stated, that anything that disadvantages anyone to vote is wrong and should be addressed,” Ridley said.
The Masters, which starts on Thursday, will honor Lee Elder, the first black golfer to participate in the tournament back in 1975. Elder will be one of the honorary starters alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
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“I cannot wait to have the honor of introducing Lee and celebrating his inspiring legacy with our patrons and viewers worldwide,” Ridley said.
