AUGUSTA, Georgia – An 18-year-old amateur golfer experienced all the expected challenges of his Masters debut at Augusta National, plus one unexpected wardrobe malfunction that kept everyone laughing.
Mason Howell, a high school student who holds the U.S. Amateur championship title, was paired with last year’s Masters winner Rory McIlroy for Thursday’s opening round. The teenager described the day as both a learning opportunity and an enjoyable experience, despite shooting a five-over 77.
“Rory is awesome. We had a great walk today,” Howell shared with media following his round.
The young golfer admitted that pre-round anxiety got the better of him initially. “I was on the first tee and couldn’t feel my arms,” he explained.
Adding to the drama was Howell’s baseball cap, which refused to stay put during his swings. The hat flew off three separate times throughout the round, beginning with his very first tee shot when excitement and aggressive play combined to create the wardrobe issue.
“I was going to swing out of my shoes to see if I could cover that right bunker,” Howell said. “It was pretty funny.”
While his initial drive ended up in the wrong fairway – landing on the ninth hole instead – Howell said sharing a laugh with McIlroy afterward helped calm his nerves. He managed to save par on both opening holes and noted his driving accuracy improved throughout the day.
The pairing provided valuable lessons for the amateur, as he watched McIlroy demonstrate the strategic thinking that separates major champions from other players. Howell observed how the Northern Ireland native made smart decisions when in difficult positions and avoided turning small mistakes into bigger problems.
“He does a great job knowing where to miss,” Howell noted. “There are some things I can learn going into tomorrow.”
Even when facing challenges, including putting struggles on the fourth hole, Howell maintained a positive attitude with his caddie and left the course feeling optimistic about future rounds.
Looking ahead to Friday’s second round, he identified key areas for improvement: hitting more greens in regulation and exercising patience. He also plans to address his equipment issue with a simple adjustment.
“We might just tighten it up one button,” he said, referring to his troublesome hat.
