Masters chairman speaks on boycotts linked with overhaul of Georgia election laws

Shortly after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law a controversial overhaul of state election regulations that opponents say target minority voters, Major League Baseball announced it was relocating this year's All-Star Game and draft from Atlanta. Some observers also called for boycotts of The Masters golf tournament set to open on Thursday, and Augusta National and Masters chairman Fred Ridley spoke about the situation during a Wednesday news conference.

Per Bob Harig of ESPN, Ridley said "the right to vote is fundamental in our democratic society. No one should be disadvantaged in exercising that right, and it is critical that all citizens have confidence in the electoral process. This is fundamental to who we are as a people. 

"We realize that views and opinions on this law differ, and there have been calls for boycotts and other punitive measures. Unfortunately, those actions often impose the greatest burdens on the most vulnerable in our society. And in this case, that includes our friends and neighbors here in Augusta who are the very focus of the positive difference we are trying to make."

MLB ultimately chose the Colorado Rockies to host the All-Star Game on July 13. Ridley somewhat danced around the issue when asked about his views of the voter laws. 

"I believe and I am confident that every member of this club believes that voting is an essential fundamental right in our society and that -- as I stated, that anything that disadvantages anyone to vote is wrong and should be addressed," he said. "I'm not going to speak to the specifics of the law, but I do know that ... I think there's a resolution, and I think that resolution is going to be based on people working together and talking and having constructive dialogue because that's the way our democratic society works. And while I know you would like for us to make a proclamation on this, I just don't think that is going to be helpful to ultimately reaching a resolution."

As Alan Blinder and Bill Pennington wrote for The New York Times, The Masters is set to run largely as normal, minus COVID-19 health and safety protocols, amid the calls for a boycott.