 |
Payne Looking To Continue
Traditions Of The Masters |
Indications that
BILLY PAYNE, who succeeded
HOOTIE JOHNSON as Augusta National Chair last May, will “usher in a more open era at Augusta National are subtle but noticeable,” according to Ron Sirak of GOLF WORLD. Payne is “simply ‘Billy’” around the golf club and “such informality is directed from the top.” At a club where “all decisions are carefully made ... it is significant [Payne] used to run the Masters media committee.” When asked what criteria will be used to evaluate his performance, Payne said, “First, you would have to put, above all else, a mandate to preserve the tradition, reputation and contribution the Masters makes to the game of golf. And, if you’re lucky enough, perhaps through some initiative or innovation, you may be able to advance it just a little bit. If I am able to preserve the traditions of
BOB JONES and
CLIFFORD ROBERTS and those who followed them, then I’ll be perfectly satisfied.” Former Southern Company Chair
BILL DAHLBERG said, “Billy is not the kind of person who sits back and lets things happen. He makes things happen. I know he will respect the traditions and heritage of Augusta and the Masters, but I think over time he’ll certainly put his fingerprints on it” (
GOLF WORLD, 3/30 issue).
ERIC GLEACHER, a former USGA Exec Committee member and founder of Gleacher Partners, where Payne has been a partner for seven years, said, “Billy’s broad range of business experience and contacts give him a unique and valuable perspective” (
GOLFWEEK, 3/31 issue).
REACHING OUT: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s Greg Foster writes, “The future of the tournament, and the way a new generation is introduced to the game, to some significant degree rests in Payne’s hands.” He “spends a lot of his time thinking about how to bring the Masters to more people in new ways,” and it “excites Payne to think about the millions of people in China and India and Africa who could be exposed to golf” via The Masters (SI GOLF PLUS, 4/3 issue).
