Meet the 39-Year-Old Real Estate Agent Playing at The Masters This Year

Rory McIlroy. Scottie Scheffler. Bryson DeChambeau. Brandon Holtz?

You may not have heard of him, but you'll hear a lot about him as Masters week kicks off Monday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The practice rounds are currently underway, with the 99th Masters Tournament set to begin Thursday.

When the gates swing open at the world's most prestigious golf club, Holtz will be among the 91 contestants strolling hallowed grounds at The Masters, and one of six amateurs who earned an invitation after winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 2025. That win also earned him an invitation to the U.S. Open later this year.

Ahead of Masters week, Holtz made the media rounds as journalists, radio hosts, and the like wanted to hear from the man himself about his Cinderella story: a 39-year-old real estate agent at ReMax who reclaimed his amateur status just a few years ago so that he could continue playing in golf tournaments with his buddies.

Who Is Brandon Holtz?

The 6-foot-4 Holtz is married to Liz Holtz. They share two children: a 6-year-old son, Baker, and a 2-year-old daughter, Millie.

Holtz attended Illinois State University on a basketball scholarship.

"I like more of the pace in basketball, the physicality," he says.

Holtz adds that the golf clubs head to the basement from November to April because living in Illinois, the weather there makes it hard to hit the course.

Holtz's Golf History and Amateur Ranking

Holtz turned pro as a golfer in 2010. According to Golfweek, Holtz participated in mini tours throughout the country, including Florida and Georgia.

It's reported that Holtz has never won a tournament and has only missed a cut once. The most money he's ever won at a tournament is $14,000, when he was a runner-up at the Illinois State Open.

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Holtz gave pro golf a real shot for about four years. But then life happened. He got married and had two kids, and suddenly ponying up $2,000 to enter a tournament didn't seem like the wisest decision.

"A lot of people don’t understand that you pay $2,000 into the tournament before you even tee up to play in it," he told Today's Golfer. "The winner might get 10 grand. If you make the cut, you might get a thousand bucks back. Ultimately you're losing pretty much every time you tee up -- unless you win."

Holtz said he knew he had to get a job to support his family, so he turned to real estate in Illinois. He's been an agent for four years now.

But he wasn't completely done with golf. He applied to regain his amateur status in 2023 and was granted the status the following year.

Holtz won't be the only rookie at The Masters this year. In fact, he's among 22. Today's Golf reports he's the oldest by eight years.

And of the six amateurs, Holtz is the oldest by 14 years. He's ranked No. 3,262 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The next highest-ranked amateur at The Masters is 112th.

A Hero's Sendoff to Augusta

Holtz was the "celebrity bartender" during a sendoff on April 1 at The Station Saloon in Bloomington, Illinois.

Holtz is no stranger to The Masters. Golfweek reports Holtz has attended numerous times ever since his father, Jeff, won lifetime badges in 2004.

For obvious reasons, this year's visit will hit different.

"We were always wondering what it’s like inside the ropes, what's in that building and this year we found out a little bit in the practice rounds but we'll get the entire show this week," he told Golfweek.

Holtz doesn't like to say he's nervous. It's an adrenaline rush as he gets closer to teeing off Thursday.

"I don't like to use the word nerves. I like to use the word adrenaline," he told Today's Golf. I'm going to be ready. What that looks like in my mind, I don't quite know yet, just because I've never played golf in front of 50,000 people. I can sit there and imagine what it's going to feel like but you don't know until you get there. I'm just anxious for that opportunity. I just hope I get to the first tee and I can tee the ball up without falling over a couple of times!"