Jackson Herrington misses Masters cut, learned a lot in Augusta debut

AUGUSTA, Ga. ― Despite an up-and-down start to the second round, Jackson Herrington felt confident he’d be a lock to make the cut in his first Masters through 11 holes of Round 2 on Friday.

The amateur out of Tennessee approached No. 12 with a similar level of confidence. Just a day before, he had made par on the short par 3, one of the most famous holes in all of golf.

And maybe it was that confidence by the 19-year-old sophomore that upset the golf gods. Herrington would go on to triple bogey. After being on the verge of the cut all tournament, it pushed him over the edge. He made pars the rest of the way to shoot 4-over-par 76 and 8-over 152 for the week.

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“It was kind of tricky, because on 11 I had 185 (yards to the pin), and I'm trying to lay it 180, and then I feel a breeze into my face,” Herrington said. “Then I get to 12, and I'm sitting there, and all flags switch down. I don't know. It was kind of hard to trust it.

"I mean, I committed to it, landed back edge I guess, and popped in the back bunker. I thought it was an easy bunker shot. I didn't think it was too hard. I just had to lay a little short and let it roll up. If it didn't, I was going to make bogey.”

Jackson Herrington reacts after putting on the second green during the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Instead, Herrington's ball flew all the way to the hole and skidded, rolling into the water that fronts the green. After hitting his fourth shot on, he two-putted for a six.

While Herrington won’t be making the cut, he isn’t letting that take away from an experience he’s been dreaming of for years. The hospitality, the excitement and buzz, and even the toughness of the course, made it something he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

“I think it exceeded my expectations,” Herrington said. “I had a blast. There's people all over the place watching. It was kind of funny on six when I made it long right, and I just tried to keep it on the green, and I gave them a little reaction. The crowd went crazy.”

Herrington tied for the best finish among the six amateurs in the field, with Oklahoma State’s Ethan Fang. He also did better than several current touring pros. All six ams, however, missed the weekend, so there will be official Low Am in 2026.

That fact leaves him optimistic it won’t be too long before he’s back at the Masters.

“I'm still 19, so I mean, I'm not even in my 20s yet. Still a teenager,” Herrington said.” You know, I made it here, so that's something in and of itself. I was going to make the cut until 12. I am confident in that. But yeah, I feel like keep doing what I've been doing and, you know, mature and learn from this week. I'll be back and will be having one of these green jackets on. So, yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to the future and what's to come.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Jackson Herrington misses Masters cut, learned a lot in Augusta debut