On Augusta And The Long Road Ahead

Helene devastated the community and home of the Masters. The club has pledges over $5 million in local support while images confirm the "significant" damage done to the course.

As another monster hurricane bears down on Florida and multiple states deal with the aftermath of Helene, it can feel a bit unseemly to wonder what happened to Augusta National ahead of the 2025 Masters. The post-Helene outcomes for towering pines, ancient magnolias and other impacts all seems especially minor set against the loss of life, property and well-being suffered over an enormous stretch of the American south.

Given what the Masters means to the region and the sports world, the hurricane’s impact on Augusta National has been of great interest to the world. Masters Chairman Fred Ridley briefly addressed the gravity of Helene at last week’s Asia Pacific Amateur and pledged $5 million of club money to recovery efforts. He vowed the tournament would go on as scheduled. So before delving into what was damaged and what must be repaired before the Masters, a recap of Helene’s progression and impact on Augusta: