Years after a gift, Mason Howell will share Masters start with Rory McIlroy
AUGUSTA — In 2016, Rory McIlroy handed a golf ball to a 9-year-old boy at the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Mason Howell kept the ball in his bedroom for years.
This week, the 18-year-old from Thomasville brought it with him to Augusta National, carrying it in his bag during practice rounds ahead of his Masters debut.
Howell and McIlroy will tee off together in Thursday’s opening round, following the tradition of grouping the defending Masters champion with the reigning U.S. Amateur winner. Howell plans to use McIlroy’s ball to break the tension.
“I’m going to say, ‘I’m going to play the first hole with a Nike,’ which I’m not,” he said. “It says ‘Rors’ on the side. That would be a power move.”
The Masters 2026
The 90th edition of the Masters Tournament tees off at Augusta National Golf Club this week. Here’s everything you need to follow the action.
THE CHAMPION: Rory McIlroy owns Augusta, wins second straight Masters title
FINAL ROUND: Five final takeaways from the 2026 Masters | Rory McIlroy makes history again Surprises, disappointments: Henley ties for third on birthday | Sights and sounds from the 18th green
GEORGIANS: High schooler on Masters debut: ‘Everything I dreamed it would be’ | UGA leads all college programs | Bulldogs legend showed up for the 1960 Masters. He’s been every year since. | Phenom’s path began with skipping rocks in South Georgia
PHOTOS: Final round | Round 3 | Golf fashions | Round 2 | Masters tournament starts | Par 3 contest | Contenders warm up | Practice rounds tee off
AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL: One rule for keeping toddlers quiet: Don’t say ‘birdie’ | Ticket-resale restrictions are popular subject | What Masters golfers would do as patrons at Augusta: ‘Have a lot of beers’ | How much it would cost to buy one of every item at the Masters Golf Shop
THE TRADITIONS (FOOD): Inside Rory McIlroy’s Champions Dinner menu | Make The Masters’ iconic 3-ingredient cocktail at home | Everything to know about pimento cheese this Masters week
WHAT TO WATCH: Why Augusta National could be ‘even more difficult’ this year | Augusta National can bring top players to their knees | Mason Howell’s path to Augusta
MASTERS GNOME: Masters gnome craze hits ‘Hunger Games’ levels amid final-edition rumors | Gnomes lead the secondary market outside Augusta National
When asked about playing with Howell, McIlroy reflected on his experience playing two rounds at the 2010 U.S. Open with eight-time major winner Tom Watson.
“I think that’s the incredible thing about our game,” McIlroy said, “is because our careers are long, so many generations overlap.”
McIlroy defeated Justin Rose last year in a playoff to secure his first green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam of winning all four majors.
Howell, meanwhile, is just getting started.
Last year, he competed at the U.S. Open, earned his spot in the Masters field and signed to play at the University of Georgia.
On Thursday and Friday, he’ll compete alongside one of the greatest in history.
“Rory was one of my idols growing up, so it’ll be super special for me,” said Howell, who will graduate high school next month. “I can’t ogle at his game too much. I got to focus on myself.”
Howell is one of six amateurs in the field attempting to become the fourth player this century — most recently Bryson DeChambeau in 2016 — to make the cut at Augusta National before turning pro.
“He’s got the game for it,” said Harris English, who played multiple practice rounds with Howell this week. “I’m looking for big things this week. Making the cut out here would be big for him, and I think he can definitely finish low amateur.”
Support for Howell has been overwhelming this week. His caddie is his Brookwood School coach, Jimmy Gillam, and a group that has included teammates, teachers and family has followed him around the course.
“It’s crazy to look up to your younger brother so much, but he’s doing such a good job,” said his sister Meg, a University of Georgia student. “The maturity level he’s had has been awesome.”
McIlroy can become the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods won in consecutive years in 2001-02. That attempt begins Thursday alongside Howell, who has ambitions of his own.
“I know I’ll be pretty nervous, but excited at the same time,” Howell said. “So if I keep a smile on my face, I think the rest will take care of itself.”
About the Author
Fletcher Page is Athens bureau chief covering northeast Georgia for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
