Masters 2026: Mason Howell's journey to the majors—'I hope this summer is a glimpse of my future'

The PGA Tour broadcast was always on in my dad's study on Sundays. He’d get a fire going, sit in his leather chair, and I’d climb into his lap and watch for hours. I was fascinated.

My parents bought me a set of plastic clubs, and every time my dad went to Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville, Ga. , he’d bring me along in the cart to hit a few. ● ● ● I pretty much tried every sport— tennis, football, baseball, soccer, basketball—but quit them all when I was 12.

Whenever I had practice, I’d come home disappointed that I didn’t have time to get to the golf course. ● ● ● We moved to Tallahassee when I was 10 because my sister was an elite swimmer. We were commuting there for her training all the time.

I found a great group of guys and played for the varsity golf team as a sixth grader. Hanging around older boys pushed me to hit it farther and better. ● ● ● On the weekends, we’d come back to Glen Arven.