October 28, 2025
274: 18-Year-Old U.S. Am Champ Mason Howell On Walker Cup at Cypress Point + Masters Invitation
The Smylie ShowAbout this episode
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 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📺 Watch full episodes weekly here on The Smylie Show #golf #TheSmylieShow #SmylieKaufman #MasonHowell #USAmateur #GolfPodcast #GolfLife #PGA #Masters #GeorgiaGolf #AmateurGolf #NextGenGolf #GolfInterview #GolfContent #GolfTalk