Masters amateurs are always one of my favorite parts of the week at Augusta National.
That may sound odd in a field packed with major champions and household names. Still, the amateur class gives the Masters something other major championships cannot quite match. It keeps one foot planted in possibility. After 15 trips to the Masters, including this year, I still love that Augusta National makes room for young players who have earned their place the hard way. The official 2026 invitees list includes seven amateurs in the field as of April 5.
The Full List Of 2026 Masters Amateurs
Here are the 2026 Masters amateurs listed by Augusta National:
- Mason Howell
- Jackson Herrington
- Ethan Fang
- Brandon Holtz
- Casey Jarvis
- Fifa Laopakdee
- Mateo Pulcini
That group reflects the many routes into the Masters. Howell is the current U.S. Amateur champion and Herrington is the runner-up. Fang is the current Amateur champion. Laopakdee won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Pulcini won the Latin America Amateur Championship. Holtz is the current U.S. Mid-Amateur champion. Jarvis is the current South African Open champion, which also earned him a place in the field.
Why The Amateur Class Still Matters
This is one of the things the Masters gets so right.
Yes, fans come to see Rory McIlroy, who aims to add his name to the list of back-to-back Masters winners, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and the rest of the game’s stars. However, the amateurs matter because they remind us what elite golf looks like before fame fully arrives.
They are not ceremonial guests. They earned their way in through serious championships and real pressure. Augusta National’s qualification categories make that clear.
From a coaching perspective, I love that part of it. These players show up with talent, yes, but also with belief. And belief matters at Augusta. You cannot fake your way around that golf course for long.
A Special Kind Of Masters Moment
For the amateurs, the week is about more than scorecards.
It is about stepping inside one of the game’s most sacred spaces and seeing how their golf holds up. Some will make noise. Some will simply gain experience. Either way, being one of the 2026 Masters amateurs is a life marker. And for fans, it is a reminder that the Masters is never only about the established stars. It is also about the next chapter.
