U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 13, 2026

Brandon Knight

Merion Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Brandon, it took you 18 holes. It was a journey on the 18th. Can you talk me through the tee shot? Looked like you didn't have a shot for the second shot, and then the putting. Walk me through that hole.

BRANDON KNIGHT: Yeah, it was a really stressful hole. Was able to tie it on the 17th. Had been down all day, so was feeling good, trying to hit a good tee shot, and got a little quick and chuck lipped it, but it was safe thankfully. I had no shot. I was in the trees, so just punched it out. A little strong, came out hot, just through the fairway. Then I had 170 yards. The rough was matted down from spectators, so it was going to come out hot, tried to land it short of the green and run it up, which is what I did. But I had a really fast putt and was able to make the comebacker.

Q. What was your reaction when Gavin missed?

BRANDON KNIGHT: I was shocked, honestly. I was kind of gearing up to play 1. I figured he was going to make it. I was ready to go. It was a relief.

Q. Taking you back a month, you had to get in through final qualifying, shot a 63. How much confidence did that give you that you could compete at Merion?

BRANDON KNIGHT: Yeah, that gave me a lot of confidence. I hadn't played a tournament in three, four weeks heading into that. I was just getting the game ready and showed up at Ruby Hill and everything was going well, nice and soft greens and making some putts and shot 9-under, which is obviously a great round. It was a lot of fun. Gave me a lot of confidence coming into this.

Q. There's a lot of good people from the Bay Area here; you're the last one standing. Talk about what it's like to have the Bay Area on your shoulders, the 925?

BRANDON KNIGHT: It feels great, yeah. This place is as good as it gets here at Merion. I have never played a golf course that's just so good through 18 holes, so fun. Yeah, happy to represent.

Q. You admitted during your TV interview that you truly don't know how to process everything you're going through because you've never been this far. What did you learn about yourself this week that you maybe didn't know on Monday when you teed off?

BRANDON KNIGHT: Well, I'm definitely learning that I can compete with these guys. I feel like I belong here, which is obviously a great feeling to have. I feel like I'm getting lucky. It's a good feeling to have.

Q. You've got a big following, some family and Colorado folks too. What's it like to have a backing out here?

BRANDON KNIGHT: Yeah, I mean, it's been great having the family here. I'm staying with my parents in the hotel. We're all driving to the course together. That's all nice. Having Derek on the bag has been -- it's the reason why I'm still here. He's really just walked me through every shot, and I'm just listening to him. He's my assistant coach, and I do it in college anyways, and he's been great. It's been awesome.

Q. Is there maybe one shot or one instance this week that stands out that he helped you get through a situation?

BRANDON KNIGHT: I mean, it's almost every shot, but every time I'm not in the fairway, I just kind of lean on him, and he just tells me how to do it, and I just listen to him and try to execute as best I can. There's been multiple times where it's worked out great.