Jackson Herrington is taking Tennessee dreams to golf's next big stage
University of Tennessee golfer Jackson Herrington attended the Masters as a spectator in 2016. Here's what it was like for him to return as a player.
Nineteen-year-old Jackson Herrington drives down the fairway at Augusta National Golf Club as I bite into a peach ice cream sandwich alongside the course's signature azaleas. We're both in our elements. Herrington and I assumed the roles of competitor and spectator at the 2026 Masters, 10 years removed from the 2016 tournament we both attended as fans before we were Vols.
Herrington remembers telling his parents he wouldn't come back − not unless he was competing for a coveted green jacket. That opportunity came a' knocking in 2026, as we were both reunited April 10 with Augusta National − on separate paths each shaped by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Herrington, a sophomore, is preparing for his next national opportunity to make his state and university proud after becoming the first UT golfer since 2014 to compete in the Masters.
"To accomplish that and have that come true was pretty special," the sport management major told me. Herrington, known as "The Fridge," has since turned 20, the same age I was when transferring to UT to pursue a journalism career. I occasionally cover athletics as the higher education reporter, though sports rarely capture my attention.
The Masters, however, has been a beloved family tradition ever since my grandfather added his name to the patron list in the 1960s. My job allowed me the time to return, not with a press pass but for vacation. It's how I preferred to revisit the serene course, sharing an exclusive experience with my girlfriend for her first time.
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