Ryder Cup at Augusta National?

Having just watched every minute of the Masters last week, the thought occurred to me Augusta National would be an unbelievable venue for the Ryder Cup. What are the chances golf fans from around the world could convince Augusta National members to host the Ryder Cup? Would the PGA of America and R&A; embrace the idea? I'm sure the golfers and fans on both sides of the pond would love it. Billy Payne, if you are listening, let us know what you think.

Is the course even open during the time of year of the Ryder Cup.  Somewhere over the last couple of days I read that they open in October.

IAC, there is no shortage of courses to hold a Ryder Cup on.

^^This.

The RC is about as racuous and blue collar as golf gets...basicaly the antithesis of Augusta.

Also, the RC is too raucous for the serene Augusta National.

This would be my same answer in regards to the other thread about the possibility of a Womens Masters at Augusta as well ...

I fear that any more use or exposure to us would actually diminish the aura and romance of the place.  The fact that we only see it for one week out of the year - and during the height of the blooming season - is a huge part of the draw.

I agree with @iacas on this one. No need for the Ryder Cup to be at Augusta.

I say leave Augusta alone. It perfect as it is now holding The Masters tournament.

I agree with this. You don't want to see the movie starlett without her makeup.

Seriously, though, the whole year is planned around making the course practically unworldly for a couple of weeks. No other course does this. They wouldn't take the chance of not having the course perfect in April.

Probably not in the same league, but I felt this way when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway started hosting all of those other races. I grew up going to the qualifying and the races, and it was special. Now with the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Indy Lights, Formula One a while back, maybe even more. Now, it's just another track.

QFT

Slim to none.

Yes, I think they would.  However, the people who need to embrace it is ANGC and there's little chance of that.

Holding the Ryder Cup at Augusta would benefit the PGA and R&A; and do nothing for ANGC.  They don't need the money, they don't need the exposure, and they don't need the course even more inaccessible to members than it is.

Well seems like this idea is not meeting with much acceptance. Many of the reasons stated are quite valid. I do take exception to the idea of over exposure. This is the Ryder Cup. It happens only once every four years in the US. So if Augusta were to host the event it might be once every 24 to 48 years. That is not over-exposure.

I just happen to think Augusta is most ideal course for the Ryder Cup format and would be the most exciting venue for both fans and players. The benefit to all is, increased interest in golf , which by the way is something the members at Augusta National seem to care about. At least that is how they talk about hosting the junior Drive, Pitch & Putt event.

As far the difference in the type of fans found at the RC versus the Masters, I'm not sure what to make of that comment. I've been to both. Yes, the RC is a very different experience, but the overall behavior/manners are no different between the two.

Sorry, but golf is already over-exposed. The wrap-around season, FedEx cup events when the big names aren't even playing, etc, etc... Why ruin a great thing? Always the same reason, money. Augusta is like a rite of spring. Comes around the time of opening day of baseball season, it feels like the beginning of the golf season to me too, even though it no longer is. It is otherworldly on the TV, especially with the new TVs we have now. Though I would like to introduce one rule change: No announcer may use the word "special" to describe the course for at least five years.

There's been discussion in another thread about the possibility of the LPGA having a tournament similar to the Masters at ANGC.  Apparently the topic was broached to Billy Payne last week during the Masters and he said it absolutely wouldn't happen.  The reasons given that it would be A Good Thing were the exact same as you mentioned - increased interest in golf, exciting venue for fans and players, history/tradition, etc.  ANGC has no interest whatsoever in it, and I doubt they'd have any interest in the Ryder Cup.

In Augusta's history, they've shown that they really don't care about what fans or other people think about what they do.  They refused to allow African-American members until 1990, refused to allow female members until 2012, have never received an official course rating, refused to allow the front 9 holes to be shown on television for years, etc.  It's a very traditional, very exclusive club and I don't think it matters who thinks it would be a good idea to host the LPGA, Ryder Cup or anything else there - if Chairman Billy Payne and the governing board don't think it's a good idea, it's not going to happen.