University of Tennessee Athletics
Tyler Watts Named to Fred Haskins Award Preseason Watch List
August 27, 2026 | Men's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Haskins Foundation released its 25-man preseason watch list for the Fred Haskins Award on Thursday morning, with Tennessee freshman Tyler Watts earning a spot on the list.
Beginning in 1971, the Fred Haskins Award is annually given to the top male U.S. collegiate D1 golfer as voted on by players, coaches, members of the college golf media, and past Haskins Award winners. Past winners of the Haskins Award have captured 33 major championships and more than 400 professional tournaments around the world.
Named in honor of Fred Haskins, the award is managed by the Haskins Foundation to acknowledge the top male golfer at the end of the season and to match the ANNIKA Award, which acknowledges the top female Division I collegiate golfer.
Watts is one of just two golfers on the list entering his freshman season in 2026-27, alongside Vanderbilt's Tyler Mawhinney. He arrives on Rocky Top with an extremely impressive junior golf resume, garnering a reputation as one of the world's best amateur players before participating in a collegiate tournament.
The Huntsville, Ala., native earned a historic victory at the Northeast Amateur in late June, closing at 16-under-par to become the youngest champion in tournament history at 18-years-old. The victory saw Watts climb to No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), where he currently remains.
As the second-highest ranked American in the WAGR on July 8, Watts earned an automatic exemption to Team USA at the 2026 Walker Cup, where he will become just the fourth Vol to ever compete in the event and the first to do so as a freshman.
The 2026 Walker Cup Match, which is the 51st in the event's history, is set for Sept. 5-6 as Team USA will take on Great Britain & Ireland at Lahinch Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland.
In addition to the Northeast Amateur victory and Walker Cup berth, Watts' resume also includes wins at the 2025 Sunnehanna Amateur Championship and the 2025 Elite Amateur Series. Additionally, he has made two starts on the PGA TOUR, making the cut at both the 2025 Procore Championship and the 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
2026-27 Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel Preseason Watch List:
Kihei Akina, BYU
Nguyen Anh Minh, Arizona State
Daniel Bennett, Texas
Carson Bertagnole, North Carolina
Adam Bresnu, Texas Tech
Ryder Cowan, Oklahoma
Josiah Gilbert, Auburn
Max Herendeen, Illinois
William Jennings, Alabama
Eric Lee, Oklahoma State
Jay Leng Jr., Stanford
Tyler Mawhinney, Vanderbilt
Jacob Modleski, Notre Dame
Luke Poulter, Florida
Logan Reilly, Auburn
Niall Shiels Donegan, North Carolina
Preston Stout, Oklahoma State
Zachary Swanwick, Florida
Harry Takis, San Diego State
Jack Turner, Florida
William Walsh, Pepperdine
Tyler Watts, Tennessee
Tyler Weaver, Florida State
Tim Wiedemeyer, Texas Tech
Connor Williams, Arizona State
Beginning in 1971, the Fred Haskins Award is annually given to the top male U.S. collegiate D1 golfer as voted on by players, coaches, members of the college golf media, and past Haskins Award winners. Past winners of the Haskins Award have captured 33 major championships and more than 400 professional tournaments around the world.
Named in honor of Fred Haskins, the award is managed by the Haskins Foundation to acknowledge the top male golfer at the end of the season and to match the ANNIKA Award, which acknowledges the top female Division I collegiate golfer.
Watts is one of just two golfers on the list entering his freshman season in 2026-27, alongside Vanderbilt's Tyler Mawhinney. He arrives on Rocky Top with an extremely impressive junior golf resume, garnering a reputation as one of the world's best amateur players before participating in a collegiate tournament.
The Huntsville, Ala., native earned a historic victory at the Northeast Amateur in late June, closing at 16-under-par to become the youngest champion in tournament history at 18-years-old. The victory saw Watts climb to No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), where he currently remains.
As the second-highest ranked American in the WAGR on July 8, Watts earned an automatic exemption to Team USA at the 2026 Walker Cup, where he will become just the fourth Vol to ever compete in the event and the first to do so as a freshman.
The 2026 Walker Cup Match, which is the 51st in the event's history, is set for Sept. 5-6 as Team USA will take on Great Britain & Ireland at Lahinch Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland.
In addition to the Northeast Amateur victory and Walker Cup berth, Watts' resume also includes wins at the 2025 Sunnehanna Amateur Championship and the 2025 Elite Amateur Series. Additionally, he has made two starts on the PGA TOUR, making the cut at both the 2025 Procore Championship and the 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
2026-27 Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel Preseason Watch List:
Kihei Akina, BYU
Nguyen Anh Minh, Arizona State
Daniel Bennett, Texas
Carson Bertagnole, North Carolina
Adam Bresnu, Texas Tech
Ryder Cowan, Oklahoma
Josiah Gilbert, Auburn
Max Herendeen, Illinois
William Jennings, Alabama
Eric Lee, Oklahoma State
Jay Leng Jr., Stanford
Tyler Mawhinney, Vanderbilt
Jacob Modleski, Notre Dame
Luke Poulter, Florida
Logan Reilly, Auburn
Niall Shiels Donegan, North Carolina
Preston Stout, Oklahoma State
Zachary Swanwick, Florida
Harry Takis, San Diego State
Jack Turner, Florida
William Walsh, Pepperdine
Tyler Watts, Tennessee
Tyler Weaver, Florida State
Tim Wiedemeyer, Texas Tech
Connor Williams, Arizona State
Players Mentioned
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