Lee Elder named as one of the honorary starters at the Masters 2021

[Tommy Williamsen]

Good call Augusta.


https://www.golfchannel.com/news/2020-masters-lee-elder-who-broke-color-barrier-tournament-become-honorary-starter-starting

[Tim Martin]

Good call Augusta.

+1

[Kevin Pallier]

+2

[JLahrman]

I agree, very well done. I'm a hippy-dippy tree hugger who often has to commend the membership at Augusta National. They're much more progressive than the average sports fan believes.

[archie_struthers]

 


Great stuff , deserves the honor

[Ronald Montesano]

This is either sh!tty reporting or a terrible decision:


"it appears Elder’s addition to the group is just for 2021.[/size][size=78%]"[/size]

[Rob Marshall]

It should have happened many years ago. What took them so long?

[Peter Sayegh]

I agree it's a good decision. Claiming Augusta National is "more progressive than the average sports fan believes" leaves me speechless.

[JLahrman]

I agree it's a good decision. Claiming Augusta National is "more progressive than the average sports fan believes" leaves me speechless.

Peter, the average sports fan believes that Augusta National membership is made up of the absolute archetype of the white-privilege-denying misogynist. Essentially buying into the stereotype that Martha Burk put forth. It's an admittedly low bar. The membership is certainly overwhelmingly made of up old white rich guys who lean conservative. I doubt any of them are active in BLM, and I have trouble picturing any Defund the Police rallies taking place on Magnolia Lane.


That said, even if the membership cared about external social pressure, there wasn't any significant pressure to initiate the women's amateur event. There wasn't any significant pressure to have Lee Elder become an honorary starter. The fact that the membership took these steps indicates to me that they aren't quite as stuck in the past as many would believe.

[Jim Hoak]

Ronald, I believe that it begins in 2021 (next spring), not just for that year.  This Masters is just a late playing of the one from this past April, so nothing (including the players who qualified) is new.

[Ronald Montesano]

I hope that's the case, Jim. Better bad writing than bad form.

[John Kavanaugh]

Maybe in 2022 they will have a woman be the honorary honorary tee off addition. Does anyone who has ever thrown out the first pitch think they are going to play every game?

[Tommy Williamsen]

Fred Ridley might be the most community minded Chairman that Augusta has had.


"Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced Wednesday that the Club and its partners at AT&T, Bank of America and IBM are making a combined contribution of $10 million to the Augusta community that will help spur the redevelopment of the nearby Harrisburg and Laney Walker neighborhoods, a noteworthy but historically underserved portion of the city’s urban core.
This gift – and a desire to provide additional organizational resources in the future – will support the ongoing efforts led by the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and the Boys & Girls Club of the CSRA. The four $2.5 million donations will provide the majority of funding for the first phase of this transformational project, which includes the construction of an innovative community center and a new headquarters for the Boys & Girls Club."
https://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2020-11-11/2020-11-11_chairman_ridley_announces_contribution_to_augusta_community.html?promo=hero_articles_ChairmanRidleyAnnouncesContributiontoAugustaCommunity