Photo: Fox News

The Ascension of Mason Howell

11/30/25 CGC Staff

Mason Howell was often in the top-10 conversation when discussing the class of 2026, starting his ascent the rankings in the spring of 2024 with several top-5 and top-10 finishes in high level invitationals. In the spring of 2025, following top-10 finishes at the Dustin Johnson World Junior and the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, Howell burst onto the national scene by trouncing top competitors in his final stage US Open qualifier to earn a trip to Oakmont. Thrust into the spotlight and still a junior in high school, Oakmont was a tough task that offered several lessons for Howell. He says, “Playing a golf course like Oakmont, you have to settle with good golf. If you play great golf, that’s awesome, but steady wins the race and there is no need to be overly aggressive on a U.S. Open golf course. You will get some bad breaks and tough lies, but you can’t get wrapped up in trying to birdie every hole.” He was able to watch how the pros practiced, giving him invaluable lessons through his observations. “I was able to sit around the chipping green and watch guys like Jordan Spieth practice their short game. Watching him chip out of thick rough also helped me out at the US Amateur,” Howell offers. “Pros are really, really good. They have so much experience on things to block out and things not to do on the golf course. At a place like Oakmont where the whole narrative is ‘The rough is thick and the golf course is long’, the pros don’t get wrapped up in that and just focus on the task at hand.”

Photo: ABC News

He followed up his US Open appearance with a strong stroke play performance at US Junior Amateur, earning medalist honors. He unfortunately had a tough draw to open match play, as he faced former #1 ranked 2025 player Henry Guan, losing a tight battle. After a top-10 at the Junior PGA Championship, the challenge of the US Amateur awaited Howell. After a solid, if not spectacular, two rounds of stroke play, his match play fate was determined in a 20 for 17 person playoff. After parring the first hole, Howell made bogey on the second playoff hole. He states, “It was definitely not the situation I wanted to be in, but fortunately that was good enough to move onto match play. It was a very intense morning.” After that, Howell’s mindset was just to take each match one shot at a time, as “At the end of the day in match play, rankings do not matter and it’s all tied up on the first tee.” Howell proceeded to take down big names such as Ben James, Tommy Morrison, Max Herendeen, and John Daly II en route to raising the winner’s trophy. It was one of the most impressive runs in recent history, especially for the 3rd youngest champion ever. With his victory, Howell earned a spot on the Walker Cup team and exemptions into next year’s Masters, US Open, and British Open. We asked Howell who keeps him grounded during a time of quick success, and he laughed, saying “My family and friends, they know when to keep me in my place and not let me ride too high.”

Photo: The Olympic Club instagram

The Walker Cup was an unforgettable experience for Howell, as he carried over his stellar play (and putting) into the team matches. We asked him how it felt and if he knew many of his teammates prior to the competition. He offers this on his experience, “I really didn’t know any of the guys that well before the tournament. I had played against some in the Amateur, but other than that, I didn’t really have many connections. I felt like I got along with everyone great on the team. It’s tough to be the young guy and fit in with these star-studded players, but I knew if I could play good golf, they would gain respect for me as well. Having Stew (Hagestad) on the team was awesome since he has played in so many Walker Cups. He was always somebody I could lean on when I needed advice.”

Photo: PGA Tour

With his newfound success and status in the amateur golf world, Howell’s tournament schedule before he heads to the University of Georgia next fall will look a bit different than if he hadn’t won the US Amateur. In addition to his his three major championship exemptions, Howell plans to play in the Jones Cup, Junior Invitational, and some Elite Amateur series events before defending his title in August.

As a new signee to the Bulldogs, we asked Howell to offer advice to upcoming juniors that will be signing with a team next fall and to those who are just beginning their recruiting journey. Howell adds “I think picking a school that you think fits you best is always the route to go, not the school that has the best football team or basketball team. I picked Georgia because I love the recruits I am coming in with and the guys already on the team. I am a big fan of the coaching staff and the work they put into making us better players in the long run. It is the little things that matter most. Recruiting can be a stressful time, but at the end of the day it’s supposed to be a time you’re supposed to enjoy the most.” We wish Howell the best in the upcoming season and as he starts his collegiate career.