SAN FRANCISCO — Georgia teenager Mason Howell capped a productive summer season earlier than his senior 12 months of highschool by successful the U.S. Beginner at The Olympic Membership on Sunday simply two months after competing in his first U.S. Open.
Howell, who turned 18 in June, raced out to a giant lead over Tennessee teenager Jackson Herrington on the opening 18 holes and went on to win the 36-hole closing 7 and 6 to surpass Tiger Woods and turn out to be the third youngest U.S. Beginner champion ever. Solely Byeong Hun An, who received at age 17 in 2009, and Danny Lee, who received a month after his 18th birthday in 2008, have been youthful.
“It is all jumbled in,” Howell stated of his feelings. “It has been such an incredible week. To have my title subsequent to those different names on this trophy is unbelievable. To be subsequent to any individual named Tiger is an unreal feeling.”
Howell received it with a par to halve the thirtieth gap, ending the most-lopsided closing since Bryson DeChambeau additionally beat Derek Bard 7 and 6 in 2015. The win earned Howell invites to the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open subsequent 12 months. He additionally acquired a spot within the Walker Cup matches down the coast at Cypress Level in September.
“I felt like I at all times had it,” Howell stated of his play this summer season. “It is self-belief. I knew it was in me. I simply wanted to stroll with some confidence and I believe that will translate to good golf and staying optimistic.
This was the primary U.S. Beginner closing that includes two youngsters since Matt Fitzpatrick bested Oliver Goss in 2013 and Howell confirmed the composure of a way more skilled golfer by repeatedly making clutch putts whereas Herrington made repeated errors.
Howell received 11 holes, eight of them with pars. He additionally responded in any case 4 holes he misplaced, successful the next gap every time.
Howell burst onto the scene when he certified for the U.S. Open this 12 months with rounds of 63-63 from the Atlanta sectional. He did not make the lower at Oakmont however used that have this week at The Olympic Membership.
He was certainly one of 17 gamers to advance from a 20-man playoff to make the match play portion of the match, the place he received all six matches.
“Actually, I’ve identified how good he’s for a very long time,” stated his father, Robert Howell. “He is had an exceptional breakout summer season.”
Howell received 5 of six holes on the entrance 9 of the opening 18 holes — together with an eagle at No. 7 — to take a four-hole lead. He elevated the result in 5 with a birdie on the par-5 sixteenth gap as his regular placing helped preserve Herrington at bay.
“That is one factor we actually needed to begin off with right now was get the lead by means of 9,” Howell stated. “We acquired off to such a great begin. I needed to maintain my foot on the gasoline, however I did not wish to do something dumb. I knew if I hit it to lots of the middle of the greens and two-putted that will be adequate.”
Herrington closed the primary 18 with a birdie on the par-5 18th to get again inside 4. However he then bogeyed the primary three holes after the lunch break to fall down by six and by no means actually threatened the remainder of the best way.
“He performed good, and I did not play nice,” Herrington stated. “It was unlucky I used to be that approach, however I realized so much about myself.”
Howell now will get prepared for his senior 12 months of highschool — which began this previous week — earlier than he’s set to begin school on the College of Georgia in 2026.
“On the finish of the day, I nonetheless must go sit in a classroom for eight hours these coming months,” Howell stated. “Simply acquired to soak this up and actually get pleasure from this one with family and friends.”
The 19-year-old Herrington is about to begin his sophomore season in school at Tennessee.
That is the fourth U.S. Beginner to be held at The Olympic Membership. Charles Coe (1958), Nathaniel Crosby (1981) and Cole Knost (2007) received the others.
