From good neighbor to good caddie: State Farm partners with amateur Brandon Holtz for 2026 Masters
· Yahoo Sports
To say that Brandon Holtz grew up in the State Farm family would be an understatement.
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Born and raised in Bloomington, Illinois, where State Farm is headquartered, nearly every member of Holtz's family worked for State Farm at some point in his life. His dad is a retired agent, while his sister, two brothers, sister-in-law, and future sister-in-law all currently work for State Farm.
Holtz may have been an outcast in some capacity on that front, but that all has changed thanks to a unique opportunity.
After winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur in late 2025, Holtz has teamed up with State Farm for his appearances in both The Masters and the U.S. Open.
"That like a good neighbor motto is real and we're seeing it first-hand," Holtz said. "This opportunity means a lot to me. It's a lot of the hard work I put in over the years and a lot of the unknown of what the future looked like... it's all coming to fruition. Last year I was fortunate enough to win the Mid-Am and I'm excited for this opportunity."
Where he is now is not where a Holtz from 10-15 years ago could have ever seen himself.
Holtz said his dad started him and his siblings in golf at a young age, but basketball was actually his primary sport growing up. Golf was more of an outlet for him to get away from the gym, and once his basketball days were done, Holtz turned to golf to fill the competitive space that filled that void.
Now, Holtz will get the opportunity to continue that golf journey in Augusta, wearing a State Farm-branded red polo and khakis, with his dad at his side as his caddy.
“What Brandon has accomplished to earn a place on two of golf’s biggest stages this year is extraordinary, and we're proud to support him as he competes at the highest level," State Farm Head of Marketing Alyson Griffin said. "It’s exactly the kind of moment that reflects what we stand for, made even more meaningful by someone so deeply connected to the State Farm family. That’s what being a Good Neighbor is all about, backing people as they chase their dreams and making sure support is there when the moment arrives.”
He'll also have some extra motivation on the course thanks to a gift put together by State Farm, his family, friends, and the Bloomington community.
"I got a dozen golf balls with personal messages on them," Holtz noted.
"It was unexpected and I was surprised but it was really cool," he continued. "I'll probably throw a couple of those in my bag.
As for the actual event itself, Holtz isn't looking too far ahead or psyching himself up because of the opportunity at hand. Having been on the opposite side of the tape before, he knows just how big the event itself is.
"I haven't experienced it first-hand playing it, so that'll be fun trying to navigate how that feels emotionally and with all of the adrenaline running," Holtz explained. "I think it may be an advantage that my way is the initial sticker shock isn't going to be there. I kind of know what the expectations are out there, I understand the grounds and I know what I'm getting into."
Overall, Holtz, added that he's just "going to take this opportunity minute-by-minute and just enjoy it," with his partner, State Farm, behind him.
"For State Farm to be a part of this and to help my family and situation in golf has been tremendous."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Golfer Brandon Holtz and State Farm creating 'local' moment at Masters