Gnome unknowns: Masters chair Ridley in dark about ornaments’ Augusta future

• Internal secrecy appears to stretch to Augusta chairman

• It's not a trivial question ... they won't tell me the answer'

The Masters gnome drama has taken another twist after the chair of Augusta National admitted he is in the dark as to the must-have items'future. Fred Ridley has repeatedly asked whether 2026 will be the final year forgnomes being on sale - as has beenwidely speculated - but revealed there is internal secrecy even towards him.

Ridley's annual Masters media address took an amusing turn when a questioner put what was suggested as a trivial" poser towards him: arereports of the gnomes' demisecorrect? Number one, the question is not trivial," he said. Numbertwo: I've been asking that question for several years and they won't tell me the answer. So I can't help you."