KLM Open brings U.S. Amateur Champion Mason Howell to The International

While the golfing world had its eyes firmly fixed on Augusta National Golf Club and the battle for the Masters title, the first international name for the KLM Open has quietly been confirmed.

From Augusta, during a live preview on Ziggo Sport, sporting director Daan Slooter announced that 18-year-old American Mason Howell – the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion – will tee it up at The International from June 4 to 7.

Howell is a textbook example of emerging world-class talent. In 2025, he captured the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming the third-youngest winner in the tournament’s history. A title long regarded as a springboard to the global stage. It also earned him a place in the U.S. Open, and he represented the United States in the 2025 Walker Cup.

KLM Open legacy

These are exactly the kind of players on which the KLM Open has built its legacy. Names that would later go on to dominate the game once started here: from Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal to Sergio García and Martin Kaymer. Even Rory McIlroy showed his class on Dutch soil early in his career. The KLM Open is therefore more than a tournament, it is a stage in the development of future champions.

Howell fits seamlessly into that tradition. During the Masters, he played his opening rounds alongside McIlroy, an experience that will only accelerate his development. Shortly after, he chose to travel to Europe, with the KLM Open as one of his first stops.

“This is always the best week of the year to connect with players and their teams,” said Daan Slooter from Augusta. “Not in meeting rooms, but simply under the tree by the clubhouse. You catch up, keep relationships warm, and build for the future. We’re proud to welcome Mason Howell to the KLM Open. He’s the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, a tremendous talent, and someone ready to take the next step here. That fits our tournament perfectly.”