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Nineteen-year-old Jackson Herrington drives down the fairway at Augusta National Golf Club as I bite into a peach ice cream sandwich alongside the course's signature azaleas. We're both in our elements.
Herrington and I assumed the roles of competitor and spectator at the 2026 Masters, 10 years removed from the 2016 tournament we both attended as fans before we were Vols. Herrington remembers telling his parents he wouldn't come back − not unless he was competing for a coveted green jacket.
That opportunity came a' knocking in 2026, as we were both reunited April 10 with Augusta National − on separate paths each shaped by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Herrington, a sophomore, is preparing for his next national opportunity to make his state and university proud after becoming the first UT golfer since 2014 to compete in the Masters.
"To accomplish that and have that come true was pretty special," the sport management major told me.
Herrington, known as "The Fridge," has since turned 20, the same age I was when transferring to UT to pursue a journalism career. I occasionally cover athletics as the higher education reporter, though sports rarely capture my attention.
The Masters, however, has been a beloved family tradition ever since my grandfather added his name to the patron list in the 1960s.
My job allowed me the time to return, not with a press pass but for vacation. It's how I preferred to revisit the serene course, sharing an exclusive experience with my girlfriend for her first time.
I packed only the essential for a short trip − most importantly, my UT polo. I left my journalism hat at home but planned to keep a close eye on Herrington, not as a reporter but as a supporter for a fellow Volunteer chasing an amateur's dream.
The Dickson County native beat us to Augusta National days in advance to prepare for his debut on golf's grandest stage.
He stayed Sunday night in the Crow's Nest, an exclusive lodging space for amateurs playing in the Masters. The Nest is considered one of the oldest areas of the historic clubhouse, and it has housed a range of Masters winners before they turned pro − names like Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Herrington could feel the history coming off the walls and took time on a quiet Monday morning to walk around Augusta National in his shorts and Lululemon hoodie. It all felt surreal.
"I feel like that doesn't happen very much," he said.
Neither does chatting with Rory McIlroy in the locker room or catching up with Jordan Speith, with whom Herrington played at Pebble Beach Golf Links years prior. In Augusta, Herrington met Fred Couples, trading numbers with the former champion and a couple more pros along the way.
“It’s something they didn’t have to do,” Herrington said, “but they were kind enough to do.”
He "reset" with the people who make him feel at home before Thursday morning - tee time 8:14 a.m. - getting his mind right with family and coaches and even fishing in a nearby pond.
The last time UT-affiliated golfers competed in the Masters was in 2014, when former UT golfer Garrick Porteous and student-golfer Oliver Goss represented the Vols as amateurs.
Herrington, who attended in 2014 as a fan, hit the course in 2026 looking to make his own UT history as we were making final preparations in Knoxville before hitting the road.
We kept track of golfers' scores - Herrington, McIlroy and Speith - as we cruised down I-40 and state highways to our AirBnB in Aiken, South Carolina, arriving around 10 p.m. as Herrington was settled into his own routine.
The student-golfer goes over what went well and what needs improvement after each round, but he doesn't like spending hours mulling over his performance. He'd rather chill out, hang with friends or watch shows like "The Night Agent" or "Animal Kingdom" on Netflix.
He rewatches Brooks Koepka's final round at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and other times he'll study, though he usually completes his homework before hitting the road.
As our episode of "The Pitt" was wrapping up at the AirBnB - another cliffhanger, of course - Herrington had a +4 first-day score hanging over his head. But some additional Big Orange spirit would be in his corner on Day 2.
Travelers have a few options to get from Knoxville to Augusta: a five-hour car ride down the interstate, or a connecting flight from McGhee Tyson Airport to Augusta Regional.
As we embarked on a road trip, anyone heading to the airport down Alcoa Highway passed the Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse at the Mack & Jonnie Day Golf Practice Facility along the Tennessee River, which opened in 2010 as the hub for UT men’s and women’s golf.
It’s a facility intimately familiar to Herrington, and it's where the women’s team practiced enroute to winning the SEC Tournament in 2026 for the first time in program history.
The facility also acts as a center for UT's internationally recognized turfgrass research, which soon will be part of another international sports spectacle. A UT research team led by John Sorochan has partnered with FIFA to develop the perfect soccer pitches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, providing consistent playing fields for 16 host stadiums across North America while bringing the UT System motto of "Everywhere You Look" to a global stage.
The motto has become prominent in athletics of late, with former Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs leading national conversations surrounding the Artemis II mission and Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello leaving in 2025 to become the first major‑league manager without MLB experience.
On a national platform of his own, Herrington represented UT with a prominent Power T on his collar throughout the Masters. The iconic logo also was inscribed on his golf bag, carried by his assistant coach and 2014 Masters contender Derek Ernst.
“Just being able to represent (UT) like that and at a stage like that was pretty awesome for me and something I was really happy to do,” Herrington said.
I wasn't the only one repping orange on the course, and I'm not talking about the peach ice cream and pimento cheese sandwiches.
Tennessee fans came out of the woodwork. More than 14,000 UT alumni live in the Peach State, a notable fraction of the 290,000-plus UT alums around the world supporting the university – including chapters in places like London and Tokyo, where you can also find Yoshitoshi Momoki’s Vols-themed bar.
I counted 13 times I heard - and reciprocated - a hearty "Go Vols" in Augusta. Herrington couldn't keep count.
“It felt like every 10 steps,” he said. “So, just having that support out there, being able to say it back and having Derek out there as well – we were always saying ‘Go Vols’ back.”
Herrington experienced some special moments on the course, like on Hole 6, when an iffy drive forced a fateful chip shot.
The ball kept rolling and rolling until it stopped at the edge of the green. Herrington "gave it a couple pumps in the air” to celebrate, he said, and the crowd "ate it up."
It was six holes later that Herrington felt his chances to make the cut slipping away. He gave his all for Tennessee the first two days but failed to qualify for the final two rounds.
“It kind of sucked, but even after I made that (triple bogey) on 12, I didn’t give up. I stayed in it, and I carried myself well,” he said. “I never gave up.”
Tying for the low amateur score of +8, Herrington finished as a top performer among the tournament's six amateurs.
Herrington earned a spot in the Masters by placing second in last year’s U.S. Amateur, and his runner-up status also earns him a spot at the U.S. Open happening June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
“I learned a lot about myself and what I do in pressure situations, what my tendencies are,” Herrington said about the Masters experience. “I think I learned more about myself than I would have if I hadn’t played, so that was a win in and of itself.”
Since returning from Augusta, Herrington tied for 60th in the 2026 SEC Men’s Golf Championship, while the UT team missed the cut for the tournament.
Next stop: Shinnecock, the course Herrington has studied by watching Koepka, who in 2018 became the first back-to-back U.S. Open champion since Curtis Strange in 1988 and ’89.
Herrington, who will be the second UT golfer in two years to play the U.S. Open, will be looking for his first championship win. If he earns it, he would be just the sixth amateur to win the U.S. Open − and the first in more than 90 years.
“I'm always trying to win,” he said. “So, going in there with the confidence and headspace to win is what I'll be doing.”
You can bet he’ll wear his orange, representing his university on a national scale once again. UT is "Everywhere You Look,” and Volunteers far and wide will be watching as Herrington looks to make UT history again this June.
Keenan Thomas is the higher education reporter for Knox News. Email: [email protected].
Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com
Learn about the latest from the state’s flagship campus. Our weekly email newsletter is tailored for alums, UT staffers, students, parents and community members.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Jackson Herrington is taking Tennessee dreams to golf's next big stage
Continue reading...
Herrington and I assumed the roles of competitor and spectator at the 2026 Masters, 10 years removed from the 2016 tournament we both attended as fans before we were Vols. Herrington remembers telling his parents he wouldn't come back − not unless he was competing for a coveted green jacket.
That opportunity came a' knocking in 2026, as we were both reunited April 10 with Augusta National − on separate paths each shaped by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Herrington, a sophomore, is preparing for his next national opportunity to make his state and university proud after becoming the first UT golfer since 2014 to compete in the Masters.
"To accomplish that and have that come true was pretty special," the sport management major told me.
Herrington, known as "The Fridge," has since turned 20, the same age I was when transferring to UT to pursue a journalism career. I occasionally cover athletics as the higher education reporter, though sports rarely capture my attention.
The Masters, however, has been a beloved family tradition ever since my grandfather added his name to the patron list in the 1960s.
My job allowed me the time to return, not with a press pass but for vacation. It's how I preferred to revisit the serene course, sharing an exclusive experience with my girlfriend for her first time.
I packed only the essential for a short trip − most importantly, my UT polo. I left my journalism hat at home but planned to keep a close eye on Herrington, not as a reporter but as a supporter for a fellow Volunteer chasing an amateur's dream.
Travel plans, preparation for the 2026 Masters Tournament
The Dickson County native beat us to Augusta National days in advance to prepare for his debut on golf's grandest stage.
He stayed Sunday night in the Crow's Nest, an exclusive lodging space for amateurs playing in the Masters. The Nest is considered one of the oldest areas of the historic clubhouse, and it has housed a range of Masters winners before they turned pro − names like Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Herrington could feel the history coming off the walls and took time on a quiet Monday morning to walk around Augusta National in his shorts and Lululemon hoodie. It all felt surreal.
"I feel like that doesn't happen very much," he said.
Neither does chatting with Rory McIlroy in the locker room or catching up with Jordan Speith, with whom Herrington played at Pebble Beach Golf Links years prior. In Augusta, Herrington met Fred Couples, trading numbers with the former champion and a couple more pros along the way.
“It’s something they didn’t have to do,” Herrington said, “but they were kind enough to do.”
He "reset" with the people who make him feel at home before Thursday morning - tee time 8:14 a.m. - getting his mind right with family and coaches and even fishing in a nearby pond.
The last time UT-affiliated golfers competed in the Masters was in 2014, when former UT golfer Garrick Porteous and student-golfer Oliver Goss represented the Vols as amateurs.
Herrington, who attended in 2014 as a fan, hit the course in 2026 looking to make his own UT history as we were making final preparations in Knoxville before hitting the road.
We kept track of golfers' scores - Herrington, McIlroy and Speith - as we cruised down I-40 and state highways to our AirBnB in Aiken, South Carolina, arriving around 10 p.m. as Herrington was settled into his own routine.
The student-golfer goes over what went well and what needs improvement after each round, but he doesn't like spending hours mulling over his performance. He'd rather chill out, hang with friends or watch shows like "The Night Agent" or "Animal Kingdom" on Netflix.
He rewatches Brooks Koepka's final round at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and other times he'll study, though he usually completes his homework before hitting the road.
As our episode of "The Pitt" was wrapping up at the AirBnB - another cliffhanger, of course - Herrington had a +4 first-day score hanging over his head. But some additional Big Orange spirit would be in his corner on Day 2.
Everywhere you look UT in Knoxville, Augusta, space
Travelers have a few options to get from Knoxville to Augusta: a five-hour car ride down the interstate, or a connecting flight from McGhee Tyson Airport to Augusta Regional.
You must be registered for see images
As we embarked on a road trip, anyone heading to the airport down Alcoa Highway passed the Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse at the Mack & Jonnie Day Golf Practice Facility along the Tennessee River, which opened in 2010 as the hub for UT men’s and women’s golf.
It’s a facility intimately familiar to Herrington, and it's where the women’s team practiced enroute to winning the SEC Tournament in 2026 for the first time in program history.
The facility also acts as a center for UT's internationally recognized turfgrass research, which soon will be part of another international sports spectacle. A UT research team led by John Sorochan has partnered with FIFA to develop the perfect soccer pitches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, providing consistent playing fields for 16 host stadiums across North America while bringing the UT System motto of "Everywhere You Look" to a global stage.
The motto has become prominent in athletics of late, with former Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs leading national conversations surrounding the Artemis II mission and Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello leaving in 2025 to become the first major‑league manager without MLB experience.
On a national platform of his own, Herrington represented UT with a prominent Power T on his collar throughout the Masters. The iconic logo also was inscribed on his golf bag, carried by his assistant coach and 2014 Masters contender Derek Ernst.
“Just being able to represent (UT) like that and at a stage like that was pretty awesome for me and something I was really happy to do,” Herrington said.
You must be registered for see images attach
I wasn't the only one repping orange on the course, and I'm not talking about the peach ice cream and pimento cheese sandwiches.
Tennessee fans came out of the woodwork. More than 14,000 UT alumni live in the Peach State, a notable fraction of the 290,000-plus UT alums around the world supporting the university – including chapters in places like London and Tokyo, where you can also find Yoshitoshi Momoki’s Vols-themed bar.
I counted 13 times I heard - and reciprocated - a hearty "Go Vols" in Augusta. Herrington couldn't keep count.
“It felt like every 10 steps,” he said. “So, just having that support out there, being able to say it back and having Derek out there as well – we were always saying ‘Go Vols’ back.”
Jackson Herrington looks to make University of Tennessee history this summer
Herrington experienced some special moments on the course, like on Hole 6, when an iffy drive forced a fateful chip shot.
You must be registered for see images attach
The ball kept rolling and rolling until it stopped at the edge of the green. Herrington "gave it a couple pumps in the air” to celebrate, he said, and the crowd "ate it up."
It was six holes later that Herrington felt his chances to make the cut slipping away. He gave his all for Tennessee the first two days but failed to qualify for the final two rounds.
“It kind of sucked, but even after I made that (triple bogey) on 12, I didn’t give up. I stayed in it, and I carried myself well,” he said. “I never gave up.”
Tying for the low amateur score of +8, Herrington finished as a top performer among the tournament's six amateurs.
Herrington earned a spot in the Masters by placing second in last year’s U.S. Amateur, and his runner-up status also earns him a spot at the U.S. Open happening June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
“I learned a lot about myself and what I do in pressure situations, what my tendencies are,” Herrington said about the Masters experience. “I think I learned more about myself than I would have if I hadn’t played, so that was a win in and of itself.”
Since returning from Augusta, Herrington tied for 60th in the 2026 SEC Men’s Golf Championship, while the UT team missed the cut for the tournament.
Next stop: Shinnecock, the course Herrington has studied by watching Koepka, who in 2018 became the first back-to-back U.S. Open champion since Curtis Strange in 1988 and ’89.
Herrington, who will be the second UT golfer in two years to play the U.S. Open, will be looking for his first championship win. If he earns it, he would be just the sixth amateur to win the U.S. Open − and the first in more than 90 years.
You must be registered for see images attach
“I'm always trying to win,” he said. “So, going in there with the confidence and headspace to win is what I'll be doing.”
You can bet he’ll wear his orange, representing his university on a national scale once again. UT is "Everywhere You Look,” and Volunteers far and wide will be watching as Herrington looks to make UT history again this June.
Keenan Thomas is the higher education reporter for Knox News. Email: [email protected].
Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com
Get The T: All the news for you about UT in one spot every week
Learn about the latest from the state’s flagship campus. Our weekly email newsletter is tailored for alums, UT staffers, students, parents and community members.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Jackson Herrington is taking Tennessee dreams to golf's next big stage
Continue reading...
