Meet 6 novices making their first Masters

Every year, a handful of the world’s best golfers receive a rare invitation to the Masters, entering golf’s hallowed grounds to compete alongside the game’s top pros. Each brings their own unique story — filled with angst and hope — to Augusta National.

Here’s a closer look at the six rookies who earned a spot at this year’s Masters.

Ethan Fang makes his Masters debut this week. Last June, he edged Ireland’s Gavin Tiernan in the final to claim the Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s in England, joining legends such as Bobby Jones, José María Olazábal and Sergio García as champions of the prestigious novice event. Fang, a First Team All-American at Oklahoma State University, led his team to the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship and finished second in the Western Amateur. His impressive resume includes competing in The Open at Royal Portrush and representing the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup, Walker Cup and Eisenhower Trophy.

Jackson Herrington will rejoin Augusta for his first Masters – and a big appearance. Last August, the University of Tennessee was runner-up to Mason Howell in the US Amateur finals at the Olympic Club, finishing second. This week, he can follow in the footsteps of legends like Ben Crenshaw, Patrick Cantlay, Doug Ghim and Neal Shipley – past US Am runners-up who went on to win the Low Amateur award the following year at the Masters. Herrington, who won the Tennessee Men’s and Junior Player of the Year in 2024, also finished second with Blades Brown in the US Amateur Four-Ball Championship and advanced to match play at the US Amateur and Western Amateur.

Brandon Holtz makes his first Masters and major championship debut after an impressive rise through the Mid-Amateur ranks. Last September, in his first USGA tournament, he defeated Jeg Coughlin III 3&2 to win the US Mid-Amateur at Troon Country Club in Arizona. That victory earned him the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy and spots in both the 2026 Masters and US Open. He joins past Mid-Amateur champions, including Jay Sigel and Stewart Hagestad, who later earned Low Amateur honors at the Masters. Holtz’s path to golf’s debut was unusual. After playing college basketball at Illinois State University, he pursued professional golf before regaining his amateur status.

Mason Howell will make his Masters debut this week as one of the sport’s rising stars. Last August, he won the US Amateur at the Olympic Club, defeating Jackson Herrington 7&6 in the final round. With his win, Howell became the third youngest champion in the event’s history. He joins a long list of past winners such as Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. The University of Georgia commit and member of the United States National Junior Team in 2026 also competed in the US Open and represented the United States in both the Walker Cup and Eisenhower Trophy in 2025. In 2024, he received junior All-America honors after finishing fifth at the Western Junior Players Championship and advanced to the round of 64 at the US Junior Amateur.

Fifa Laopakdee makes history this week as the first Thai student to compete at the Masters. Last October, he made a stunning comeback at the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Dubai, starting the final round six strokes behind. Birdies on holes 17, 18 and all three playoff holes earned Laopakdee victory, earning him spots in both the 2026 Masters and the Open Championship. The Arizona State University junior also won an individual gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games by 11 strokes. He also represented Thailand at the world level in the Eisenhower Trophy and the Junior Presidents Cup.

Mateo Pulcini made his first Masters and major championship after winning the Latin America Amateur in Peru last January. He closed his final round with a 68 and birdied the second qualifying hole to secure spots at this year’s Masters, US Open and Open Championship. In 2025, Pulcini won the World Amateur Golf Ranking events in Argentina and Brazil, finished fifth in the Mexican Amateur and represented Argentina in the Eisenhower Trophy in Singapore. He also earned three NCAA Division II All-American honors at Oklahoma Christian University and played his final season at the University of Arkansas.