274: 18-Year-Old U.S. Am Champ Mason Howell On Walker Cup at Cypress Point + Masters Invitation

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme kick off this week’s episode catching up on dad life, bedtime chaos, and a wild rant about Brian Kelly’s LSU exit before diving deep into the rise of sports gambling in professional golf — and whether it could ever impact the PGA Tour.

Then, Smylie sits down with Mason Howell, the 18-year-old phenom who won the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship — making him the third-youngest champion in history. Mason opens up about:
• His emotional journey from small-town Georgia to golf’s biggest stage
• What it felt like to qualify for the U.S. Open and earn a Masters invite
• Competing against top amateurs like Tommy Morrison and Ben James
• The pressures of high school life after winning one of golf’s biggest titles

A can’t-miss conversation about the next great name in golf.

00:00 Dad life updates and bedtime chaos
04:30 LSU, Brian Kelly, and college football chaos
11:15 Gambling scandals
19:10 Could golf ever face a gambling crisis?
27:10 How betting affects players and fans
31:40 Mason Howell Interview
32:00 Life after winning the U.S. Am — back to high school reality
33:40 Growing up in Thomasville and discovering golf
36:20 Qualifying for the U.S. Open at 18 years old
39:10 Competing at Oakmont and learning from the pros
43:15 The grind of the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club
47:45 Facing Tommy Morrison and Ben James in match play
49:50 Taking down John Daly in a thriller
51:00 Securing Masters and Walker Cup spots
54:00 What’s next for Mason Howell
1:12:10 Smylie’s thoughts on the next wave of young golf talent
1:16:25 Comparing today’s amateur game to the PGA Tour
1:20:00 Charlie’s take: what makes great golfers stand out early
1:24:10 Smylie shares his Masters memories
1:29:00 Wrapping up — offseason plans and what’s next on The Smylie Show

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