Mason Howell, a junior at Brookwood School in Thomasville, Georgia, went from being one of the 10 golfers on the Warriors’ boys golf team to being one of 156 golfers playing in the 2025 U.S. Open, which is hosted by the USGA and is one of the four major men’s golf championship tournaments.
When you consider that approximately 10,000 golfers nationwide attempted to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open, the enormity of what 17-year-old Howell did becomes that much more incredible.
Howell first had to play in a local qualifier in Gainesville, Florida, against a mix of professional and amateur golfers, and he had to finish in the Top 5 to move on to a second qualifier. He actually finished first.
Then, he had to outshine 80 other professional and some amateur golfers in a second qualifier, finishing at least in the Top 5 to have a chance to play in the U.S. Open. He won that qualifier as well.
With that, Howell was on his way to playing in the 125th U.S. Open.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Howell said one day after arriving back in Thomasville.
Of winning the back-to-back qualifiers and getting the chance to play alongside the greatest golfers in the world, Howell said: “I was in a great spot mentally playing through the last qualifier to get here. I just trusted my game and the hard work, and it all paid off.”
Howell said that when he first arrived at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, the site of the U.S. Open, the reality of playing in a major tournament against golfers he grew up watching hit him before he set foot on the course.
“It was just crazy,” Howell said. “I was in the clubhouse and walking by guys I’ve grown up watching play golf on TV like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. I was blown away.”
Howell knew that the toughest golf course in the country awaited him, so he had to settle down and concentrate, which was easier said than done.
“I knew I had to stay focused,” he said. “There were about 100,000 people on the property each day. That was my first time playing in front of that many people.”
He did have dozens of family members and supporters from Thomasville among those in attendance, including his Brookwood golf coach, Jimmy Gillam, serving by his side as his caddie.
Howell said he felt good as he and the other golfers teed off on Day 1 last Thursday.
“I got off to a pretty good start and finished the first round at 7 over par,” he said.
On Day 2, things began to get a bit tougher.
“I started the second round and was playing well, then it started pouring rain,” Howell said.
The Oakmont golf course, already considered to be one of the most challenging courses in the country, became even more difficult to play as the rain continued. Howell said it became pretty obvious about midway through the second round that he may not be playing into a third round.
(After the second round, golfers must have a minimum score to advance into Saturday’s third round).
“I was standing on the 16th tee with my caddie, and it started to pour, and I looked at him and said, ‘We may be out of this thing, so let’s have as much fun as we can,’” Howell said, determined to make the most out of his experience.
After the second round, Howell’s incredible run of qualifying for and playing in the U.S. Open was over. He finished 113th out of the approximately 160 golfers in the tournament.
Howell reflected on the difficulty of playing the Oakmont course.
“It’s the hardest course in America,” Howell said. “It was tougher compared to the courses in South Georgia that I’ve played on.”
His most memorable experience of playing in the U.S. Open came in the second round.
“On the second hole of the second round, I made a pretty long putt for birdie, and to hear my family and friends and all of those people in the grandstands cheering was super memorable,” Howell said.
Howell’s mother, Lauren Howell, and father, Robb Howell, were on hand to see their son play and to offer support.
“This weekend was incredible,” his mother said. “I grew up watching many major golf tournaments with my grandfather, and then to see my dad, Mason’s grandfather, walking alongside him at Oakmont was both amazing and emotional.”
Friends and Family Came From Afar to Root for Howell
Lauren Howell said that her son had plenty of family travel long distances to show their support.
Howell’s sister, Meg, who is studying abroad in Paris, surprised her brother by showing up Friday morning after her transatlantic flight. She got to see him play on Day 2.
“It was quick but so worth it,” Howell’s mother said.
While not as far away as Paris, Howell’s cousins Carter Davis and Kelly Tucker drove 14 hours from Tallahassee, Florida, to the course in Oakmont to see him play.
What’s Next for Mason Howell?
Howell said he’ll play in a few tournaments over the summer before his senior season of high school rolls around. After he graduates, it will be time for Howell to leave Thomasville for Athens, Georgia.
He already has a full scholarship offer to attend the University of Georgia, where he’ll play for the men’s golf team.
As far as his major is concerned, Howell said he hasn’t yet decided, but he is dedicated to his golf game for a while.
“I wish I could major in golf,” he said.
