Fred Ridley chairs Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, a role he’s held since 2017. He turned 74 on August 16, 2026, and still practices as a commercial real estate lawyer in Tampa alongside the Augusta job. The facts here come from Wikipedia’s sourced entry, his law firm’s official attorney bio, SEC filings, and named golf outlets that covered his own press conferences directly — checked against each other, not taken from any single source.
Quick Answer
- Full name: Fred Scobie Ridley
- Born: August 16, 1952, in Lakeland, Florida
- Known for: Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, since 2017
- Career: Commercial real estate lawyer, partner at Foley & Lardner LLP
- Family: Married to Elizabeth “Betsy” Herndon; they have three daughters
- Golf background: Won the 1975 U.S. Amateur Championship; former USGA president
Quick Facts Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Fred Scobie Ridley |
| Date of birth | August 16, 1952 |
| Age | 74 (as of this writing) |
| Birthplace | Lakeland, Florida; raised in Winter Haven |
| Residence | Tampa, Florida |
| Education | University of Florida (BS, 1974); Stetson University College of Law (JD, 1977) |
| Occupation | Lawyer; golf administrator |
| Current role | Chairman, Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament (since October 2017) |
| Law firm | Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP, Tampa office |
| Other role | Member, University of Florida Board of Trustees |
| Spouse | Elizabeth “Betsy” Herndon |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Notable amateur title | 1975 U.S. Amateur Championship |
Early Life and Education
Ridley grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, not far from where he was born in Lakeland, and went through Winter Haven High School. His father, Claude, grew citrus and later worked as an assistant superintendent of schools in Polk County.
Golf came from Claude early on — he once told a reporter he’d sawed down a set of clubs so his son could start swinging as a small child. By 14, Ridley was playing his first junior tournament.
At the University of Florida, he played on the golf team as an alternate on the Gators squad that won the 1973 NCAA national championship, while earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the College of Business Administration in 1974. He then went on to Stetson University’s law school, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1977. Florida later inducted him into its athletic hall of fame as a “Distinguished Letterwinner.”
Amateur Golf Career
Winning the 1975 U.S. Amateur Championship put Ridley in the Masters field as an amateur three years straight — 1976, 1977, and 1978 — playing alongside professionals including Jack Nicklaus. Golf Digest ranked him the country’s #2 amateur at the end of 1975. He remains the last U.S. Amateur champion never to have turned professional.
His amateur résumé also includes the 1976 U.S. Open, the 1976 Open Championship, and the 1987 British Amateur. He later captained American teams at the 1987 and 1989 Walker Cups and the 2010 Eisenhower Trophy.
Legal Career
Law school led first to three years at International Management Group, where Ridley worked under sports agent Mark McCormack managing the professional affairs of golfers including Hal Sutton.
From there, he moved into private practice: the Tampa firm Bucklew & Ramsey starting in 1980, then Annis & Mitchell in 1984, where he spent 16 years focused on real estate law. He’s been a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, an international firm headquartered in Milwaukee, since February 2001.
At Foley, his practice centers on commercial real estate development and finance, plus golf and resort development. He’s chaired the firm’s national Real Estate Practice and served on its Management Committee. Best Lawyers named him Tampa’s Leisure and Hospitality “Lawyer of the Year” in both 2021 and 2024.
Beyond the law firm, Ridley also sits on the University of Florida Board of Trustees, having been reappointed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
USGA and the Path to Augusta
Ridley’s record with the United States Golf Association predates his Augusta role by decades. He served on its executive board, as treasurer, and as vice president, and chaired its Championship Committee, its Amateur Status and Conduct Committee, and its International Team Selection Committee. Members elected him USGA president in 2004, a term that ran through 2005. He also co-chaired the International Golf Federation.
Augusta National admitted him as a member in 2000. He went on to chair the club’s Masters Competition Committee from 2007 to 2017.
Augusta National announced on August 23, 2017, that Ridley would succeed Billy Payne as chairman. He took office when the club reopened for its 2017–18 season, becoming the first former U.S. Amateur champion to hold the position.
Chairman of Augusta National
The chairman speaks for the club publicly and oversees the Masters, including the yearly pre-tournament press conference. Under Ridley, Augusta National launched the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019 — a program he’s said grew faster than he expected. At the 2026 Masters, he told reporters its growth was “beyond my expectations for this short of a period of time.”
He’s also pushed publicly for rolling back golf ball distance at the professional level. Ahead of the tournament’s 90th playing, at his April 2026 press conference, he called continued cooperation on the issue non-negotiable: “Failure’s not an option.”
Augusta National doesn’t publish what the chairman role pays, or whether it pays at all. No named outlet has reported a figure, so none appears here.
Wife and Family
Ridley’s wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Herndon, is also a University of Florida graduate. Public sources confirm the couple has three daughters, but their names and ages haven’t been made public by Ridley himself — so they’re left out here too.
Net Worth and Salary
No confirmed figure exists for Ridley’s overall net worth, either from him directly or from a named financial outlet. One slice of his outside income is public, though: SEC filings show he’s served as an independent director of Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD) since September 2018. Per the company’s proxy statements, that board seat paid him around $260,000 in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 — split between a $120,000 cash retainer and stock awards.
That number covers only the Starwood board seat. It says nothing about his law firm income or anything tied to Augusta National, which the club keeps private.
FAQs
How old is Fred Ridley?
Born August 16, 1952, making him 74 as of this writing.
Is Fred Ridley married?
Yes, to Elizabeth “Betsy” Herndon, a fellow University of Florida graduate. They have three daughters.
What is Fred Ridley’s net worth?
Not publicly confirmed. The only sourced income figure available is around $260,000 a year from his Starwood Property Trust board seat, per SEC filings. His broader net worth, including law firm earnings, isn’t public.
Does Fred Ridley get paid as Augusta National chairman?
Augusta National doesn’t disclose this, and no named outlet has reported a figure for the role.
What did Fred Ridley do before Augusta National?
He was a champion amateur golfer — winner of the 1975 U.S. Amateur — and built a long career as a commercial real estate lawyer. He also served as USGA president from 2004 to 2005.
What is Fred Ridley’s job outside of golf?
Partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, practicing commercial real estate law in Tampa.
How long has Fred Ridley been Augusta National chairman?
Since October 2017, when he succeeded Billy Payne.
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