AUGUSTA, Ga. _ It was Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley who first broached the idea of the club hosting a future women's amateur tournament.
It didn't take long for the membership to back it, and the notion became reality with the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur that was held last week.
Jennifer Kupcho's victory and the way the tournament played out drew mostly rave reviews in the golf world. And still, Ridley said he was a bit surprised by what he saw and heard.
Speaking Wednesday for the first time publicly in the aftermath of the ANWA, Ridley said, "What I'm not sure I fully anticipated was the emotional response, which was something that I'm still really glowing about.
"I think I was really heartened by our staff and the way our staff really was motivated and inspired by the effort," he added. "I think it made us a better organization. ... I'm also very proud to hear so many members ... say that they have never been prouder to be a member of Augusta National."
Criticism of the event mostly centered on the fact that women amateurs were the first to play an official tournament at Augusta, rather than LPGA Tour professionals. Augusta also scheduled its tournament in the same week as the LPGA's first major of the season, the ANA Inspiration.
Ridley addressed that concern by noting that club's strong amateur ties date back to its founder, Bobby Jones, and that its other initiatives to support the game have come at the amateur level.
"We really wanted this to continue in a grow-the-game sort of mode," Ridley said. "But having said that, I do think that what has happened is going to translate and be a real benefit for professional golf and for the LPGA."
