The 2026 Masters will feature six notable amateur golfers, including Mason Howell and Ethan Fang. Half of these amateurs are currently in college, while others include a high-school golfer and a seasoned player with nearly two decades since college.
One of the more exciting parts of the Masters every year is the battle of the amateurs, as the best of the bunch gets a seat in Butler Cabin at the end of the tournament.
There are a handful of ways that an amateur can earn a spot in the Masters field, which include winning an amateur championship within the past year. For the 2026 Masters, the field includes six interesting amateurs who have a chance to make a name for themselves throughout the weekend.
Half of the amateurs in the field are currently in college, but there are a few who are not competing in the 2025-26 NCAA golf season. That includes one high-school golfer who will be attending college this fall, and another amateur who is almost two decades removed from his college experience.
Get to know the six amateurs participating in the 90th Masters this weekend.
A junior on the Oklahoma State golf team, Ethan Fang won theĀ Amateur Championship at Royal St George's in England, the second American ever to win the tournament, which secured his spot in the Masters field. As a result, this year's Masters will be Fang's second career major, as he missed the cut at The British Open last July.
Fang was named a first-team PING All-American for his performance during the 2024-25 college golf season, and he was part of Oklahoma State's national championship team last year. Additionally, he was a member of Team USA's Walker Cup winning team in 2025, going 1-2-1 over the course of the tournament.
After winning the 36-hole final match at Royal St. Georgeās, Ethan Fang is looking forward to the major opportunities ahead. ššŗšø pic.twitter.com/uX13Y2BKfg
Jackson Herrington is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, but earned a spot at the Masters by finishing as the runner-up in the U.S. Amateur championship in 2025. The 19-year-old lefty has never played in a major, so this Masters appearance offers him a huge opportunity.
Of course a one-handed finish leads to driving the green
@Vol_Golf's Jackson Herrington two-putts for a birdie and his first lead of the match. pic.twitter.com/rQ7Hf9PmpB
Brandon Holtz is the most interesting amateur playing in the Masters this year. A 39-year-old real estate broker, Holtz won the U.S. Mid-Amateur championship last September to get in this tournament and the U.S. Open, making him the oldest amateur in this year's field.
Drive the green. Tap in for eagle. Clinch the match.
Holtz played basketball at Illinois State from 2005-09, and after a brief try as a professional, regained amateur status in 2024.
"I kept my pro card for a while just because I liked to play for cash, and it got to the point where I just wasn't playing any events anymore, so decided to get my amateur status back last year," Holtz said after winning the Mid-Am. "I didn't see this day. I'm glad it's here, though."
Mason Howell beat Jackson Herrington in the U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming the third-youngest winner of the event and giving him chance to compete at the Masters at just 18 years-old. Howell isn't even in college yet, as he is set to attend the University of Georgia in the fall.
šØšŗšøš„ #WINNER ā Mason Howell wins the 2025 U.S. Amateur champ with a 7 & 6 win over The Fridge, Jackson Herrington.
The win secures his spot at next years Masters Tournament š„
Howell was also a member of Team USA's 2025 Walker Cup team, going 2-0-1 in three matches during the tournament. Additionally, this will not be Howell's first major, as he missed the cut at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Fifa Laopakdee is a 21-year-old golfer from Thailand who clinched a Masters spot and a British Open spot by winning theĀ Asia-Pacific Amateur in October. Laopakdee will make history by becoming the first amateur golfer from Thailand to compete in the Masters.
Fifa Laopakdee from Thailand was 6 shots off the lead entering the final day of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, he then shot a final round 68 to force a playoff with 16 year old Taisei Nagasaki from Japan.
Laopakdee is currently a junior at Arizona State and helped lead the Sun Devils to the No. 1 seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament.
FIFA GETS IT DONE IN A PLAYOFF š
After finishing at -12 to force an extra hole in the Thunderbird Collegiate, a par for Fifa Laopakdee was enough to claim the individual title š„š„ #ForksUp /// @TheSunDevilspic.twitter.com/AgYe73r98h
ā Sun Devil Men's Golf (@sundevilmgolf) April 12, 2025
Mateo Pulcini
A 25-year-old from Argentina, Mateo Pulcini became the third Argentinian to win theĀ Latin America Amateur Championship, which earned him an invite to the Masters. That also means that Pulcini has secured spots in three of the four majors this season, as he will tee it up at the U.S. Open and British Open as well.
Mateo Pulcini was automatic with the putter down the stretch.
Pulcini previously played four seasons of collegiate golf at Oklahoma Christian University, where he won the NCAA Division II championship three times. Pulcini also spent a season as a graduate student at Arkansas in 2023-24, where he played in five events for the Razorbacks.
Share this article
Q&A
Who are the amateur golfers participating in the 2026 Masters?
The amateur golfers include Mason Howell and Ethan Fang, among others.
How can an amateur golfer qualify for the Masters tournament?
Amateur golfers can qualify by winning an amateur championship within the past year.
What is the significance of the amateur competition at the Masters?
The amateur competition is significant as it showcases emerging talent and the winner gets a spot in Butler Cabin at the end of the tournament.
Are any of the amateurs in the 2026 Masters currently in college?
Yes, half of the amateurs in the 2026 Masters field are currently in college.
Related Articles
Sports
Hugo GonzĆ”lez, vĆctima en los Celtics de la maldiciĆ³n del Catan
MarcaĀ·
Sports
DC vs GT: What was David Miller thinking ā why didnāt he run?
Yahoo SportsĀ·
Sports
Photos: Best images from Thunder's 128-110 win over Clippers
Yahoo SportsĀ·
Sports
Ex-Chelsea star accuses Liam Rosenior of being āegotisticalā over Fernandez ban
Yahoo SportsĀ·
Sports
āReally poorā ā Jamie Carragher criticises Liverpool trio who need to do āan awful lot moreā
Yahoo SportsĀ·
Sports
Rangers fear Naderi could miss rest of season - gossip
