Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 24 augusT 2017
Ridley, former U.S. Amateur champ, to take over at Augusta

By DOUG FERGUSON mer USGA and PGA Tour
AP Golf Writer rules official. When word
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Fred got to Ridley, he said he
Ridley first came to Augus- viewed the drop and did
ta National to compete not see a violation.
in the 1976 Masters as the Only after more questions
U.S. Amateur champion, were raised — Woods told
and he played the open- the media he purposely
ing round in the traditional dropped the ball a few
pairing with the defending yards farther away from
champion, Jack Nicklaus. the original spot — did the
He will have a new role in rules committee realize he
his next round at Augusta should been penalized.
National — the seventh Woods was given a two-
chairman in the 86-year shot penalty but spared
history of the club. disqualification for signing
Billy Payne announced an incorrect card because
Wednesday that he is re- Ridley said officials made
tiring on Oct. 16 when the a mistake by not speaking
club opens for a new sea- to Woods. Ridley is the first
son, and he chose Ridley chairman to have played
to succeed him. in the Masters, missing the
“If he’s not better than me, cut all three times. He also
then I failed,” Payne said. played in the U.S. Open
“And I fully expect him to and British Open.
be. I’ve seen his passion “If the game is poised to
and his love for our club. take some dramatic steps,
I know the way the mem- I think having Fred as chair-
bers respect him, and in man of Augusta National
many cases, love him. He is a very good thing,” said
is going to be a natural In this Wednesday, April 4, 2007, file photo, Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Billy Payne, David Fay, the executive
center, arrives with Fred Ridley, left, and Craig Heatley at the media center to brief reporters on
fit. And he will lead us in a the Masters during practice for the 2007 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf director of the USGA dur-
different way because ev- Club in Augusta, Ga. ing Ridley’s two years as
erybody is different. But it’s Associated Press president.
going to be a better way. “Once I finally decided cal task would be finding a decision.” While Payne was the first
This is a great move for Au- that Fred was the right per- replacement. After taking Ridley had been at chairman who had never
gusta National.” son, then I had the sense I a year to get settled, he Payne’s side as chairman met co-founders Bobby
Ridley, a 65-year-old busi- had completed my most began studying who would of the Masters champion- Jones and Clifford Roberts,
ness lawyer from Tampa, important job,” Payne said. be the best candidate. ship committee, though it Ridley met Roberts when
Florida, is the last U.S. Ama- “To make that orderly tran- “I started thinking and wasn’t always smooth sail- he played in the Masters.
teur champion who never sition, I needed to get go- looking and, through time, ing. He was at the center of Fay also was intrigued by
turned pro. He played in ing.” eliminating,” Payne said. a rules controversy involv- the links to Jones.
the 1977 Walker Cup, was Ridley was not made avail- “As I became aware of ing Tiger Woods in 2013. “If you were to look for
twice a Walker Cup cap- able for comment. The club the qualifications that it re- Woods hit a shot into the common denominators,
tain, served on the USGA said he would not speak quired, it became obvious 15th hole that struck the pin he has more with Bobby
executive committee for about the role until he took to me, fairly soon, that Fred and bounced back into Jones than just about any
11 years and was president over in October. was emerging as an unbe- the water in the second of the subsequent chairs,”
of the USGA in 2004 and Payne became chairman lievable talent, a man who round. He dropped from Fay said. “Both were U.S.
2005. in 2006 and said Hootie loved, as I do, Augusta Na- an incorrect spot, which Amateur champions, both
He also is the reason Payne Johnson, his predecessor, tional and all it stands for. was spotted by a television were lawyers and both re-
chose to retire. told him that his most criti- At the end, it was an easy viewer — David Eger, a for- mained amateurs.q

Lutsenko wins Vuelta’s 5th stage, Froome adds to lead

ALCOSSEBRE, Spain (AP) — that he has finished as run- the Mediterranean Sea. second race lead over “I’m surprised to see Vin-
Chris Froome increased his ner-up on three occasions. Lutsenko finished the Tejay van Garderen to 10 cenzo Nibali and Fabio
lead in the Spanish Vuelta “Looking at the time gaps 175.7-kilometer (109.1- seconds. Nicolas Roche, Aru lose some time today
during a fifth stage won now, the general clas- mile) ride from Benicassim David de la Cruz, Fabio - and Romain Bardet, but
by Alexey Lutsenko of Ka- sification is definitely tak- to Alcossebre in 4 hours, Aru, Vincenzo Nibali and it’s a long race,” Froome
zakhstan on Wednesday. ing a bit more shape,” 24 minutes. It was the first Romain Bardet all lost even said. The route took riders
Froome started the day Froome said. “And if you grand tour stage win for more time to the four-time over four category-two
just two seconds ahead think there’s just a 3 kilo- the 24-year-old Astana Tour de France winner. climbs and a category-
of a trio of riders and with meter climb to the finish, I rider. After a small group Chaves is third overall, 11 three, before a push up
most of this top rivals within can definitely be happy.” of breakaway riders trick- seconds back. Nibali is the final category-three
a minute. But after most of Lutsenko left behind Mar- led across the line, Froome now 36 seconds behind in ascent. Thursday’s sixth
them struggled through a co Haller at the start of stuck to the wheel of Al- sixth place, while Aru trails stage is a 204.4-kilometer
hilly stage and then toiled the stage’s finally climb, a berto Contador as the two by 49 in seventh, and Bar- (127-mile) run from Vila-re-
on the race’s first summit short but steep trudge up traded attacks along with det is 12th at 1:37. Conta- al to Sagunt including four
finish, Froome looks to be to the Ermita de Santa Lu- Esteban Chaves. dor remained over three category-three and one
in command of a race cia church and its views of Froome increased his two- minutes behind. category-two climbs.q