AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jackson Herrington enjoyed a petite filet provided by Augusta National at the Amateur Dinner on Monday night, then went home and had “two more little small steaks” before calling it a night.
That’s the type of appetite that will earn one the nickname of “The Fridge,” which stuck with the 6-foot Herrington courtesy of his teammates at the University of Tennessee.
The sophomore qualified for this week’s Masters courtesy of his runner-up finish at the 2025 U.S. Amateur at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. A 19-year-old amateur, Herrington is making sure to soak up his first experience as a player at Augusta National.
That included mustering up the courage to ask Bryson DeChambeau if he’d be willing to play a practice round together. DeChambeau agreed, and the two played together on Tuesday.
“I would say I was a little bit nervous on first tee today. After that, just kept telling myself I belong and they’re just no better than I am,” Herrington said after the practice round.
DeChambeau said that Herrington has “an unbelievable game, same ball speed as me.” The two are going to play the back nine together on Wednesday.
It’s part of the experience Herrington is determined to maximize. The Dickson, Tenn. native began his Masters week by taking in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday and played a practice round with England’s Tommy Fleetwood on Monday.
“It was awesome to get out there in that atmosphere with Bryson and pick his brain on the course,” he said. “Talked to Rory (McIlroy) a little bit on Saturday. He’s definitely exceeded my expectations of how nice he was. Same with Bryson and Tommy. Everyone has been super nice to me. I think that’s something that if I didn’t go up to him I would definitely be kicking myself.
“It’s been really awesome.”
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
