Fred Ridley, Masters standing behind Tiger Woods and his foundation

• Woods' design firm, TGR Design, created a new 9-hole short course called The Loop at The Patch.
• The TGR Foundation is also involved in a new learning lab in Augusta to provide STEAM education for underserved youth.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley kept his comments about Tiger Woods and the 5-time Masters champion's personal issues brief.

Speaking one day before the start of the 90th Masters, Ridley credited and thanked Woods for his involvement in The Loop at The Patch, a 9-hole short course designed by Woods and TGR Design.

The Patch, the name of the 18-hole Augusta Municipal Golf Course, was renovated with help from Augusta National. The Loop is a new course included in the renovations.

Ridley then repeated the statement released by the Masters four days after Woods' March 27 accident and arrest on DUI charges in Jupiter Island, adding that the Masters will continue to support Woods and his foundation. The Masters statement came the same day Woods said he was "stepping away" from golf to seek treatment and focus on his health.

"I would like to add that we fully support Tiger's recent decision to focus on his health and well-being," Ridley said. "Our commitment to the TGR Foundation and to Tiger personally has not wavered. We wish him the very best."

Tiger Woods involved in two projects in Augusta

Woods' accident and arrest came about a week before he was expected to be in Augusta for the opening of The Loop and celebrate another project in which his foundation is involved.

Ground breaking for the TGR Learning Lab of Augusta will be later this year. The Augusta learning lab will be the fourth in the United States and will provide underserved youth with access to STEAM education and workforce development opportunities. The opening is targeted for 2028.

"Sunday evening we celebrated another initiative to serve the game of golf in our community," Ridley said. "This endeavor focused on our home in Augusta with the celebration of the reopening of The Patch and a nine-hole short course we have named The Loop at the Patch."

The project has been developed in partnership with the city of Augusta, the First Tee of Augusta and Augusta Technical College. The Patch and The Loop are each near the end of a one-month soft opening and will formally reopen to the public on April 15.

"It will be a community destination where golf is accessible, affordable, and fun for everyone," Ridley said.

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].