KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (TVC) — As 19-year-old Jackson Herrington watched his final putt at the U.S. Amateur Championship sink into the hole, relief and joy washed over him; he had just clinched his ticket to the Masters Tournament.
“I kinda blacked out I think. It was just a lot of emotions from all the hard work and sacrifices I have put into the game and all the rough times I have experienced in the last few years just to get to that place. It all paid off and came out right there.”
Arguably, the Masters is the most prestigious professional golf tournament in the world; a moment most golfers only dream of has just become a reality for Herrington.
As a young child, Herrington suffered a concussion from a trampoline accident, requiring eye surgery and ruling out contact sports. This led him to focus on what he had come to love most: golf.
Herrington remembers playing in his first golf tournament at only 5 ½-years-old. With a drive like none other by the age of 10, he was “tired of losing,” and decided to focus his energy on golf.
“I still tried to have fun. Obviously, I was 10-years-old and didn’t know a whole lot, I just think I got so tired of losing, I was more motivated to win. And, you know, I did everything I could, too”.
His sights were set high, with the Masters in mind. “Every time I was on the green when I was practicing, I would always say, ‘One last putt. This is for the Masters.’ So, to be able to do that at nine years old, and then now at 19, to be able to go and play against the best players in the world, it’s really a dream come true”.
This focus led him to qualify for the Junior Masters multiple times while continuing to focus on the bigger goal of qualifying for Augusta one day. With parents who supported him every step of the way, Herrington is sharing this moment with his family, “I wouldn’t be where I am today. So definitely, this is an opportunity for me to kind of show the world that I am one of the best golfers in the world, but it is also, you know, it’s for them too”.
Herrington had the opportunity to attend the 2014 Masters with his mom. In a heartfelt Instagram post announcing his invitation to the 2026 Masters, he gave a nod to that experience, “In 2014, I walked the grounds at Augusta watching the Masters Tournament and told my mom I’d play this tournament someday. Well, someday has come”.
Herrington’s caddy for the tournament is Derek Ernes, who played in the 2014 Masters, the year Herrington made that promise to his mom to play there someday. A rarity for a golfer to have a caddy who has also competed at the Masters, this duo is prepared for all the challenges Augusta’s challenging course, crowd, and attention can bring.
What’s most exciting to Herrington about Augusta? Getting the crowd around him and the attention of the top players in the world.
When he was there last weekend, he noted “There were probably 15 of the top 20 players in the world there just playing practice rounds. So, you know, to be able to hit tee shots in front of them and be around those guys helped a lot.”
Practice rounds play such a pivotal part in the Masters. Herrington has practice rounds set up with Bryson DeChambeau and Tommy Fleetwood.
The Masters gathers the best of the best golfers in the world, which will surround Herrington with so many golf legends. When listing off his golf idols, it wasn’t necessarily their golf game that stood out to him the most.
“I looked up to Arnold Palmer, just the way he treated the fans and the people you know, he’d always sign an autograph, or whatever it may be, but I think the ones that are actively playing, like Rory [McIlroy] Brooks [Koepka], obviously Tiger [Woods], Phil [Mickelson] and all those guys. I think growing up as a kid, those were the big names on TV. So those are the ones that I really looked up to”.
In addition, being one of six amateurs playing in this year’s tournament, he will have to stay in “The Crows Nest” for at least one night. The Crows Nest is an on-site lodge in the clubhouse’s attic known for its traditional style and tight quarters.
“I’m staying on Sunday night. I know I’m not gonna get any sleep up there because the beds are tiny and the room’s small. I talked with Scott Stallings, and he told me to do Sunday night, because I know I’m not gonna get any sleep. I’m gonna do it on the day where I don’t need the most sleep, so just one night there”.
His family will be there with him all week. They have rented a house near the course that will serve as a home base for family and friends cheering on Herrington. Members of the Vol Golf team are also coming out to show support. Noting that they have been “nothing but supportive” and oftentimes will push Herrington to “make me work for it” when the team is out practicing.
Herrington teed off at 8:14 a.m. on Thursday and 11:27 a.m. on Friday.
Herrington shot a 76 (+4) playing three over on the front nine and one over on the back nine.
After the Masters, Vols can continue to follow Herrington as he makes his U.S. Open debut this June. Herrington exemplifies not just the qualities of a great golfer but also truly embodies the Volunteer spirit.
