U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 12, 2026

Miles Russell

Merion Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk me through your day today.

MILES RUSSELL: Yeah, those days happen. Didn't have my best stuff, and I kind of needed it. That's the way it goes in match play. Usually sometimes if you're not playing great you can still kind of scrape it around, and I hung on there for a long time.

Q. Was it difficult to find fairways today?

MILES RUSSELL: Yeah, the first few holes for sure. Kind of figured out my driver on 6, had a good feel going, and had it going there on 14, but just a lost thing today.

Q. Where do you feel like the turning point was for you, when he was starting to get a little bit of momentum?

MILES RUSSELL: Really on 9 green, after I lost 8 and 9. Had a nice little break there on 10, just kind of sat down and kind of restarted and had a new game plan and stuck to it there for a long time.

Q. The putt on 13 that went over his mark, did you think about giving it to him or having him move it? What was the thought process there?

MILES RUSSELL: It was a little bit of a slider but it was more there if I missed it low, it might have gotten lucky and bounced in. But I just needed to hit it a little harder. It was almost kind of a training aid, just needed to get it around it. Just wasn't to be.

Q. Did you hit the line you wanted to though?

MILES RUSSELL: No, the line was fine. Just needed to hit it a little harder.

Q. Do you think the mark had an effect on the putt going in?

MILES RUSSELL: No, if his mark wasn't there, I still would have missed it. It needed to hit the left side of the marker to go in, and it just went right over the middle.

Q. Was it a distraction at all in your mind?

MILES RUSSELL: No, it was like a training aid. That's the way I practice.

Q. Something to look forward to in a couple weeks, getting over to Lahinch. After the emotions of not making the team last year, how excited are you to get out there for the Walker Cup?

MILES RUSSELL: Really looking forward to it. Anytime you can represent your country, it'll be a lot of fun and something I'll love to do. It'll be good just to play something different with a team there to support me.

Q. How would you describe the last year for you? Walking off Olympic Club to now, the U.S. Open, all the finalists, all the good golf, what's that been like?

MILES RUSSELL: It's been a lot of fun. Anytime you play golf in general it's fun. When you get to play good golf, it's a lot of fun. I'm thankful I've been able to do that and play pretty well.

Q. I know you still have Walker Cup coming up, but how would you sum up your summer?

MILES RUSSELL: I'd say it was a great summer. Played a lot of good golf and a lot of good to take away from there.