Masters 2026: Meet the amateurs playing at Augusta, including the high schooler set for his ‘full-circle’ moment with Rory McIlroy

AUGUSTA, Ga. — It’s a cliché to say any amateur competing in the Masters is living out a dream. It’s also quite true.

For reigning U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell, the chance to play in the same pairing as reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy makes the experience even more surreal. His favorite player growing up was McIlroy, ever since Rory gave him a golf ball at the 2013 Tour Championship when Howell was only 6.

“I went to watch and he gave me his golf ball on like the fourth hole, and I’ve kept it ever since, so it’ll be kind of a full-circle moment,” Howell said on a recent podcast.

“Some people say, like, who do they look up to? Like Tiger and people like that. Rory was my guy because he was the best golfer for me growing up.”

The week got off to a good start for Howell when he nearly made a hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth in practice. It was reminiscent of his experience last September at the Walker Cup, when in practice round he made an albatross on the par-5 second hole at Cypress Point Club.

No doubt the adrenaline will be flowing come Thursday. It’s why he’s trying to pace himself as the first round draws near.

“It’s kind of a lot to handle,” Howell said. “It’s a long week, but I’m keeping it to nine [holes] a day, focusing on myself, and then whenever Thursday comes, I know I’ll be pretty nervous but excited at the same time, so if I keep a smile on my face, I think the rest will take care of itself.”

It’s good advice for all six of the amateur in this year’s field (a seventh, NCAA champion Michael La Sasso out of Ole Miss, passed up on his invite to turn pro earlier this year and join the LIV Golf League). The most obvious goal for each of them is to try to make the cut in order to be able to claim low amateur honors come Sunday. Just 10 of the last 21 years has an amateur made the 36-hole cut at the Masters, although in the last 11 years it has happened seven times, most recently with Neil Shipley in 2024.

Who is most likely to pull it off in 2026? Read on …

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Ethan Fang

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Augusta National

Age: 20 Home: Plano, TexasCollege: Oklahoma State (junior) How he qualified: British Amateur champion World Amateur Golf Ranking: 8 Odds of making the cut: 3-1

Skinny: It’s been an eventful 10-plus months for Fang, starting with helping Oklahoma State win the NCAA team title and earning first-team All-American honors. Less than a month later, he became the first American since 2007 (Drew Weaver) to win the British Amateur title, which earned him a spot in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. A runner-up finish at the Western Amateur helped lock up spot on the U.S. Walker Cup and World Amateur teams. Fang complete with his OSU teammates at the Augusta Haskins Invitational this past weekend (finishing second) and has been leaning on former Cowboy Viktor Hovland for some advice about Augusta National. “Just kind of little tips on how the wind kind of tricks you here and how it gets firm throughout the week.”

Jackson Herrington

2026 Masters Tournament

Leckie Wong

Age: 19 Home: Dickson, Tenn.College: Tennessee (sophomore) How he qualified: U.S. Amateur runner-up World Amateur Golf Ranking: 103 Odds of making the cut: 8-1

Skinny: The lefty goes by the nickname Fridge thanks to his stocky 6-foot build, but he has lost nearly 20 pounds since many saw him last competing at the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club last summer. That’s in part due to a training program he started with the help of Tennessee assistant coach Derek Ernst. If that names sounds familiar, it’s because Ernst was a former PGA Tour winner (2013 at Quail Hollow) who played in the 2014 Masters (MC). Herrington has played well of late, finishing T-6 and T-14 in two of his last three college starts, and found himself with Bryson DeChambeau during a Tuesday practice round. “He's got an unbelievable game, same ball speed as me,” said DeChambeau, who as an amateur in 2016 was near the lead after 36 holes. “If he catches fire, he could be doing that too.” The challenge this week for Herrington, aside from adjusting to the crowds, is to muscle up the courage to pick the brains of the game’s best players. “It was awesome to get out there in that atmosphere with Bryson. Talked to Rory (McIlroy) a little bit on Saturday,” Herrington said. “Everyone has been super nice to me. I think that's something that if I didn't go up to [them] I would definitely be kicking myself.

Brandon Holtz

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Maddie Meyer

Age: 39 Home: Bloomington, Ill.How he qualified: U.S. Mid-Amateur champion World Amateur Golf Ranking: 3262 Odds of making the cut: 10-1

Skinny: A real estate everyman is how our Joel Beall characterized Holtz, who grew up coming to the Masters each April as a patron after his dad, Jeff, won patrons badges for life in 2004. Interestingly, golf isn’t the only sport that Brandon has excelled in; he played basketball in college at Illinois State. He tried pro golf after graduating in 2009, but eventually called it quits after four years. In 2023, Holtz applied to get his amateur status back, and then last year applied to play in his first USGA championship when he entered the Mid-Am. His victory at Sand Valley, with his father on the bag, locked up his Augusta spot. Not surprising, dad will be looping come Thursday as well.

Mason Howell

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Hector Vivas

Age: 18 Home: Thomasville, Ga.College: Georga (freshman in fall 2026) How he qualified: U.S. Amateur champion World Amateur Golf Ranking: 79 Odds of making the cut: 2-1

Skinny: The high school senior continues his dream run that began last June when he shot a pair of 63s in U.S. Open Final Qualifying to earn a spot into the field at Oakmont. In August, he became the third-youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur title at Olympic Club, followed by going 2-0-1 for the victorious U.S. Walker Cup team in September. Don’t let the WAGR ranking fool you too much; Howell’s schedule has been light on events since the fall. The Georgia native, however, has taken advantage of his five allowed visits to Augusta ahead of this week’s main event. But playing practice rounds is different than hearing them say Fore, please, now driving. “I'll be super excited but at the same time I'll be super nervous. I think just controlling my emotions and sticking to my game plan and just having fun.”

Fifa Laopakdee

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Augusta National

Age: 21 Home: ThailandCollege: Arizona State (junior)How he qualified: Asia-Pacific Amateur champion World Amateur Golf Ranking: 25 Odds of making the cut: 6-1

Skinny: Laopakdee will be the first Thai native to compete in the Masters after pulling out a victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Dubai, making three birdies in a playoff to claim the title. The story goes that ASU coach Matt Thurmond pushed him early in his college career, seeing potential and challenging him to reach it. In turn Laopakdee’s hard work paid off with two college wins last season before his Asia-Pacific Am victory. Thurmond’s describes him as meticulously dressed, kept together and ready and characterizes his quiet, unassuming nature like this: “If he were a Beatle, he’d be George Harrison.” As for the first name that he goes by, Laopakdee says his father was a soccer fan. “he was choosing between Fifa from FIFA World Cup and Uefa from UEFA Champions League,” Laopakdee said. “So luckily it ends up with at Fifa.”

Mateo Pulcini

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Augusta National

Age: 25 Home: ArgentinaHow he qualified: Latin America Amateur champion World Amateur Golf Ranking: 115 Odds of making the cut: 10-1

Skinny: Pulcini claimed his Augusta invite in January at the Latin America Amateur with a win over Venezuela’s Virgilio Paz Valdes on the second playoff hole at Peru’s Lima Golf Club. Having wrapped up his college career at Arkansas in 2024, he hopes to draw inspiration from fellow Razorback Maria Jose Marin, winner last weekend at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. He also played a practice round with former Masters champion (and fellow Argentine) Angel Cabrera. And looking for another good omen? His locker in new Player Performance Center is situated between Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. “I don't know if the Masters knew or not, … they were like my childhood heroes, Jordan mainly. I love how he played through his years and how he handles every situation. I feel like a superstar here basically. Like I said, how they treat you, how the fans are coming to you saying good luck and everything. And signing things. It's a dream.”