The Amateur Who Won’t Be There

There is one important absence hanging over this year’s amateur class.

Michael La Sasso, the 2025 NCAA Division I individual champion, earned a Masters invitation with his title-winning performance. But before he could make the trip to Augusta as an amateur, he chose a different path—turning professional and heading to LIV Golf, which ended his amateur eligibility and cost him the Masters spot that came with the NCAA title.

Mason Howell: The Young Star Everyone Will Watch

If one amateur arrives at Augusta with the brightest spotlight, it is Mason Howell. The 2025 U.S. Amateur champion has already become one of the most recognizable young names in the game, and now he brings that momentum to golf’s most iconic stage.

Howell’s story is compelling because of both his talent and his age. He is young enough to make Augusta feel almost surreal, but accomplished enough that his appearance won’t simply be ceremonial. He will arrive believing he belongs. That combination—youthful freedom mixed with legitimate competitive confidence—can make a player especially dangerous.

Jackson Herrington: Heartbreak Opened the Door

Jackson Herrington took a different road to Augusta. The Tennessee standout finished runner-up at the 2025 U.S. Amateur, earning his invitation through one of the most emotionally complicated routes in golf.

There is something fascinating about a player who gets to Augusta through heartbreak. Herrington came incredibly close to claiming one of the game’s great amateur prizes, and while the final did not go his way, it still changed his life. That matters. So does the emotional maturity that comes from being in the crucible, feeling everything, and coming back stronger. Augusta may feel like a reward, but for Herrington, it may also feel like unfinished business.

Ethan Fang: The Polished Contender

Ethan Fang might be the most complete amateur in the group. The Oklahoma State standout earned his Masters invitation by winning The Amateur Championship, one of the most prestigious titles in the sport and one that has long served as a proving ground for future stars.

Fang feels like the amateur who already carries himself like a professional. His résumé, his path, and his composure all suggest a player who is not just grateful to be there, but eager to measure himself against the best. There is always one amateur in the field who seems most likely to settle in quickly and look comfortable under the bright lights. Fang may be that player this year.

Brandon Holtz: The Story Every Golfer Understands

Not every amateur at Augusta arrives as a teenager or college star. That is what makes Brandon Holtz such a compelling figure in this year’s field.

Holtz earned his place by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur, and his presence immediately broadens the emotional reach of this story. He represents the side of amateur golf built on persistence, maturity, and a life lived outside the insulated pipeline of elite junior competition. For readers of AmateurGolf.com, his story may feel the most personal. He is the reminder that the dream of Augusta doesn’t disappear just because real life arrives.

Fifa Laopakdee: Carrying More Than His Own Dream

Fifa Laopakdee will arrive at Augusta as one of the most intriguing international stories in the field. The Thailand native earned his invitation through the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and his journey gives this year’s amateur class a deeper global dimension.

Players like Laopakdee carry more than their own ambitions into Masters week. They bring national pride, family sacrifice, and the emotion of representing a golf community that sees Augusta through them. That can create pressure, but it can also create purpose. In a field where many players are still learning exactly who they are, Laopakdee already feels connected to something bigger.

Mateo Pulcini: The Reward for Staying Ready

Mateo Pulcini earned his place in the Masters by winning the Latin America Amateur Championship, and he arrives with a different kind of presence than some of the younger names in the field.

Pulcini’s story feels less like a sudden breakout and more like the payoff of years of work. That can be a real advantage at Augusta. The Masters demands patience, perspective, and emotional control. It rewards players who don’t get carried away by the moment. Pulcini may not arrive with the most hype, but he may have exactly the kind of maturity that helps an amateur handle the stage.

What They Might Be Feeling Right Now

On March 17, the Masters still exists in a strange in-between space. It is no longer distant, but it is not here yet. That may be the most emotional part of the experience.

These players are still trying to keep their routines normal. They are practicing, traveling, competing, and handling the rhythms of daily golf life. But the ordinary is beginning to give way to the extraordinary.

Families are making plans. Coaches are preparing. Yardage books and practice rounds are starting to feel real. And in the quiet moments, each player is almost certainly imagining it: the drive down Magnolia Lane, the first glimpse of the clubhouse, the opening tee shot, and the realization that they are no longer just watching the Masters—they are in it.