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PGA Tour
Mason Howell may not be in high school, but he will head to 2025 US Open.
The 17-year-old Georgia high school junior punched tickets for the 125th edition of the PGA Tour Major after an epic qualifying round.
“It was one of the greatest moments of my life,” Howell said after the event.
Howell competed in the US Open Final Qualifier at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, blew the wind throughout the course on Monday. This day is called the “longest day of golf,” as players need to play two rounds of golf in one day, but that was hardly an issue for Howell.
He shot an 18-under par that day, first tied with Jackson Buchanan in the qualifying event, shooting 63 in both rounds. What’s even more impressive is howell didn’t have one bogey during the day. He birded on the par 5 18th to close the day in front of amateur and PGA tour players, including 2007 Masters champion Zack Johnson.
Only the top five finishers from the Atlanta event have moved to the US Open, with Howell currently harboring high momentum to play for the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Who is Mason Howell?
Howell, 17, from Thomasville, Georgia, has become one of the young golfers at Top Rising. He is currently a third-year student at Brookwood High School, who is scheduled to graduate in 2026. Although he graduates a year apart, he has already promised to play at Georgia University.
The Tallahassee Democrats, part of the USA Today Network, first featured golf clubs in July 2022 at the age of three, and played tournaments from the age of six.
“Tournament golf was a big part of my life,” Howell said at the time. “I recommend that kids start playing golf and incorporate it as it’s one of the best sports you can play.”
Last month he was part of the boys’ golf team that won the program’s fourth title in five years, the Georgia State Championship. Even more impressive, Howell won a low medallist at the state championships and honors in the playoffs.
Howell is currently ranked 8th in the Boys American Junior Golf Association rankings, but he entered Monday as the 496th amateur. In his amateur career, he won the 2023 Billy Horsechell Junior Championship and has 11 top-10 finishes in his younger career. He also won the 2023 Future Masters Tournament in Alabama.
The 2025 US Open will be Howell’s first major event. It will be held from June 12th to 15th.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional information.
