Fred Ridley: Distance gains not good for Masters, golf in general

AUGUSTA, Ga. – With the lion’s share of attention this week going to Bryson DeChambeau and how far he’s hitting his drives, it was inevitable that Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley would be asked about recent distance gains and how that might impact both the Masters and golf.

“I think we are at a crossroads as relates to this issue,” Ridley said. “I do think that we're coming closer to a call to action.”

Ridley didn’t offer any details on what that action might be, although he did reference a report on distance that is scheduled to be published next year. He added that the club is reluctant at this moment to start any major changes, like in 2002 and ’06, that dramatically lengthened the…