This episode we hear from Fred Ridley, a well-recognized partner at the law firm Foley & Lardner LLP. He is also the current chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and its annual tournaments, which includes The Masters in April.

Fred is also well known for being the last US Amateur champion not to turn pro - having won in 1975. He grew up in Lakeland, Florida, learning to play golf on municipal courses. He went on to play collegiate golf at the University of Florida on a team that eventually won a national title, played once and served twice as Team captain in the Walker Cup, and played once and served as team captain once in the World Amateur Team Championship. He has also served in various executive roles for the USGA including President in the mid-2000s.

So - incredible record - why not turn pro? Fred made a firm decision at a young age to work toward a career in law, and points to his role model and Augusta National founder, Bobby Jones, as his inspiration. After graduating from Stetson Law, Fred went to work for IMG, Mark McCormack’s sports agency in Cleveland. Eventually, he came back to Tampa - in that transition he stopped playing competitive golf, dug into work, and found his way to Foley & Lardner where he has been since 2001.

Fred and I discuss his foundations in golf, his transition from being known as a golfer to becoming known as a working professional, the commonalities in his executive roles on and off the golf course, and his definition of “grow the game.”