Former USGA President Jim Hyler Now Setting Masters Pins

And Jim Hyler gets the best seat in the house when Chairman Fred Ridley hosts the annual chairman's Masters press conference.

But more important to most of us, the former USGA president was named chairman of the Masters Tournament Competition Committees and Rules Committee according to an Augusta Chronicle story. This means he will head up the committee charged with course setup and, in this era of golf courses needing to adapt to an ever-changing game, Hyler's tenure with the USGA certainly educated him to the possibilities of course setup and the issues caused by distance gains. (David Shefter profiled him in 2010.)

From the Chronicle story:

Hyler, of Asheville, N.C., has served as a member of the tournament’s Rules Committee since 2015. He replaces Ridley, who held both roles from 2006-2017 before becoming club and tournament chairman in October.

“Having handled this important assignment for many years, I am aware of its necessary qualifications and, therefore, very proud to name Jim as my successor,” Ridley said in a statement. “He is uniquely qualified to serve the tournament in this position, given his background and previous experience assisting in the successful conduct of our competition.”