Amateur Brandon Holtz of the United States at the Tournament Practice Area ahead of a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, April 06, 2026.

Kieran Cleeves / The Masters

Craig Onsrud: Living the Dream

4/9/2026 9:57:00 AM

Each April, the most sought after ticket in sports is one to Augusta, Ga. for The Masters Golf Tournament, hosted at one of the most exclusive golf courses in America - Augusta National Golf Club.

Craig Onsrud, the head women's coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, is a local golf legend with plenty of experience at championship courses. One he had never attended though, was the Augusta National. When fellow local Brandon Holtz won the USGA Mid-Ameteur Championship in Arizona in September of 2025 and earned a spot in the Masters field, he had a choice to make. Who would fill the spot of being his swing coach?

Holtz is a local golf legend himself, although his career did not start out as a golfer. Holtz, like Onsrud, was a Redbird, but played on the Illinois State University men's basketball team from 2005 to 2008. Prior to that, Holtz played high school basketball at Bloomington High School under current IWU men's basketball coach Ron Rose. Onsrud played on the men's golf team at ISU before turning professional in 1991. While different generations, the community and relationships between IWU and ISU have connected them through the game of golf.

A longtime pro at Ironwood Golf Course and coach with IWU women's golf for nearly 25 years, Onsrud has helped hundreds of people and student-athletes perfect their golf swings. Through his years of coaching as a volunteer assistant before being named head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season, Onsrud has coached 13 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin medalists, five All-Americans, and three Academic All-Americans. Onsrud's daughter, Lexi Onsrud, is one of the most accomplished women's golfers in program history earning Academic All-American of the year in the same year she graduated, 2024.

The Bloomington-Normal golf community is tight-knit, and Holtz knew exactly who to call to help dial in his swing during the most important tournament of his career. Onsrud, who had never been to Augusta National as a patron, would now have the opportunity to be inside the ropes during the most special week of the golf calendar.

Onsrud, who would much rather spend his time out of the spotlight so it can shine on others, is doing so again this week. This time, though, his kindness has taken him inside the ropes at the most magical place in golf - Augusta National.

Brandon Holtz tees off alongside two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson and Nicolas Echavarria at 9:02 a.m. ET Thursday, April 9.

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