AUGUSTA, Ga. () — Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club always marks the chairman’s press conference.

The current chairman, Fred S. Ridley provided several bits of information in the 40 minutes he was in front of the media.

The chairman started by talking about the hard work it took to get the course back to playing shape after the impacts of Hurricane Helene in September.

Then he gave an update on the Players Services Project. He said phase one is complete, which was the underground parking garage for the players. Phase two, which is the three-level, state-of-the-art building is still on schedule.

He also addressed problems with the game of golf, which he is keeping an eye on. The first is distance and the other is pace of play.

“I am encouraged that the PGA Tour is doing some things, experimenting with some timing procedures that might be a little more aggressive than we’ve seen in the past,” Ridley said. “Golf’s a special game because it requires us to be considerate while also being competitive, respecting other people’s time, including importantly, the fans who support the game is a fundamental courtesy.”

He was asked about, arguably, the most pressing issue in golf right now: The current state of the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV golf.

“I’m going to continue to be saying that and encouraging the leaders of the organizations involved to try to work together to come up with a solution,” Ridley said. “But I think we all agree that four times a year, is not enough to have the great players of the game together.”

Also in the presser, Chairman Ridley said this week is the 50th anniversary of the first African American playing in the Masters tournament. On April 10, 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black professional golfer to play in the Masters. Jack Nicklaus would go on to win the tournament.