The No. 5/4 Texas men’s golf team enters the spring season ranked among the nation’s elite. After a strong fall, highlighted by multiple runner-up finishes and a share of the title at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, the Longhorns return from a lengthy break after not competing as a team since late October.
Several key contributors return to the lineup, led by three-time All-American, senior Christiaan Maas, currently ranked No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The South African earned Southeastern Conference Co-Golfer of the Week twice this fall. Maas, along with teammate and fellow All-American, sophomore Daniel Bennett, helped South Africa capture a team championship at the 2025 World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore in early October. Maas won’t be back in Austin for a little while, as he was granted an exemption to play in the PGA/DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Classic Jan. 22-25.
“I’m very honored to receive this opportunity,” Maas said, according to a Texas Athletics article. “I feel like I’ve watched this specific tournament my whole life … I’m obviously extremely excited to compete in this tournament, as it will be my first time in Dubai, and it’s going to be awesome!”
Bennett, ranked No. 16 nationally, continued his strong play at The Williams Cup last October, where he carded a 1-under 71 in the final round to finish second in the individual standings with a 54-hole score of 6-under 210 (68-71-71). Over break, Bennett finished T-40 at the Jones Cup Invitational, a prestigious amateur tournament hosted in Sea Island, Georgia.
No. 9-ranked All-American senior Tommy Morrison also returns after an impressive fall season. Morrison missed Texas’ opener at the Sahalee Players Championship while competing for the 2025 USA Walker Cup Team in early September. One of only 10 players selected, he helped the Americans earn a 17-9 victory over Great Britain and Ireland. Continuing his strong play from the fall, Morrison finished T-10 at the Jones Cup Invitational with a 36-hole score of 1-over 145 (71-74).
The spring schedule features multiple elite tournaments that will serve as key measuring sticks before postseason play.
Texas begins its spring slate Jan. 26-27 at the Arizona NIT in Tucson, Arizona, before traveling to Waimea, Hawaii, for the Amer Ari Invitational Feb. 5-7. Texas will then compete at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas from March 1-3, followed by a quick turnaround at the Desimone Invitational in Daly City, California, from March 9-10.
The Longhorns will wrap up the regular season at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational in Palm City, Florida, from March 23-24, followed by The Ford Collegiate in Richmond Hill, Georgia, from April 13-14. Texas captured team titles at both events last season and will be looking to carry that momentum into the SEC Championships and NCAA postseason.
Now in his 29th season, head coach John Fields aims to take Texas to its 24th NCAA Championship appearance.
