U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 14, 2026

Jack Whaley

Merion Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You're advancing to the semifinals. Talk to me about your match today. How did you get it done?

JACK WHALEY: I mean, it sounds pretty basic, but it's just getting the ball in the hole, honestly. I tried to put myself into positions where I can be able to go at the flag, and I noticed that Adam was slightly out of position. Just gave myself the opportunity to at worst make par. There was a couple of holes today where Adam was in a sticky situation where I was kind of trying to play away from the flag and give myself a putt for birdie and almost guaranteed a par. The game felt good, and yeah, looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. There was a pretty strong turnout today out there. What was it like playing in front of that crowd, and do you feel like that gave you some extra juice?

JACK WHALEY: That's probably the first time I've ever -- well, besides the playoff. But that was incredible. It's one of the best experiences I've had playing golf. I was honestly a little bit nervous to start with, but then you kind of realize how the pros handle it. You don't really look at them. You just kind of play your own game and focus on your own golf ball, and it starts to feel normal.

Q. Talk about the playoff, the last time you came out of a playoff. Do you remember that?

JACK WHALEY: Yeah, that's a pretty cool one. If I can go to the end, that would be a pretty cool story.

Q. It was only a year ago that you were playing in NAIA, correct? Can you talk about that journey of playing on the NAIA stage and all of a sudden here you are in the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur?

JACK WHALEY: Honestly, going NAIA for the first two years was the best choice I ever made, and honestly, I played under one of the best coaches I could have ever got. Ben Rickett was such a great influence for me and really pushed me towards being the best that I can be.

I think being in them situations and learning how to win -- I mean, I won quite a few times in NAIA and being in a position where you've got a bit of pressure on your back going down the stretch, you kind of get used to it. I think it really shows when you've got a crowd like that and you know what's at stake. You go back to what you've learnt in the past, and it really helped me.

Q. Had you and Adam spent much time together? There's a photo of you guys when you won the Nicklaus award with Jack, but did you spend much time together this week or at any point before this week?

JACK WHALEY: I mean, that week during Nicklaus was obviously a great week. Being around Adam and all the other guys that won it was great. We all sat down and had a meal together and had a chat and really learned about what each other's divisions were like, so that was really good. Obviously Adam has come through into Division I and played really, really well as well, so I knew it was going to be a tough match today. But yeah, I think he's a great guy. We always chat every time we see each other and say hello anytime we walk past each other on the putting green, so we have a good friendship.

Q. When did you start working with Pete, and what has he imparted on you and helped you with the most?

JACK WHALEY: Well, I'm not actually coached fully by Pete Cowen. I'm coached by Nick Huby, and honestly, he's one of the best coaches in the world. He works at the driving range that Pete Cowen owns, so he's like his right-hand man. He's taught Nick everything he knows, and obviously I'm basically getting taught by Pete at this point, and Nick is a fantastic human being. He's taught me everything I know. I've had lessons since I was four years old from him, and I'm never going to change from him.

Q. At this driving range?

JACK WHALEY: Yeah.

Q. What's it called?

JACK WHALEY: It's called Pete Cowen Golf Academy. It's in Rotherham.

Q. That's near where you --

JACK WHALEY: Yeah, it's like 25 minutes from where I grew up.

Q. What are your earliest memories of going there and getting lessons and kind of learning the game, and how good were you back then?

JACK WHALEY: I mean, not very good. But Nick has really got me to where I am today, so I can only thank him.

Earliest memories, probably -- I was probably four or five years old maybe, three or four years old. Went to the driving range with my dad one day because he said they had a double-tiered driving range, and I was like, oh, it sounds really cool. We ended up going there and he saw a sign on the wall promoting group lessons on a Saturday with Nick Huby. At that point he did the group lessons. He said, do you fancy doing it. I was like, yeah, may as well. At four years old, five years old, what do I know. Thought I'd try it.

From that point, I've always been with him. I see him once a month now, and I'm on the phone with him as much as I can when I'm at college. Yeah, that's probably my earliest experience.

Q. I don't want to look too far ahead, but if you were to win tomorrow, you'd get spots in the U.S. Open and the Masters. Are those tournaments that you've maybe dreamed about or thought about playing in since you were a kid, and what would it mean if you were able to punch your ticket?

JACK WHALEY: I mean, obviously it would be a huge thing to go and play in those prestigious events. I'm trying not to think about it as much as I can because obviously it can add a little bit more pressure, but at the end of the day, I've still just got to go out and play my own game, and if that comes at the end of it, then I'll be very, very pleased and pumped.

Q. You mentioned yesterday you hadn't heard from the selectors to the Walker Cup team. Did you hear from anyone overnight?

JACK WHALEY: No. It would obviously be a huge honor to go and play in the Walker Cup. I'm always honored to go and play for any team, if it's my home four-ball, for county level or Sheffield union that I used to play when I was younger. But obviously that's a really big step up from them ones. But I just want to play golf. I've just got to let my golf talk, and I would be incredibly honored if they communicate with me and said they wanted me to play.

Listen, I'm playing golf; that's all I'm doing.

Q. What past national team events have you played on?

JACK WHALEY: National team events?

Q. Whether it be seniors or juniors or --

JACK WHALEY: I actually haven't played on national team, actually representing the country in a team event. Just played at my county level. End of last year I got on to the England-U.S. squad base, and then this year I've been representing at the Western Am wearing the clothing.

Hopefully a lot more to come from this.

Q. It wasn't until late last year that you were on effectively the national team where they were supporting you?

JACK WHALEY: Well, at Florida State we're really lucky to host England Golf to come to our practice facilities, and we get a camp during -- what's it called? During the end of November, and they all come over, all the coaches come over, and all the players from England who play at colleges in America, they all come to our facility.

As I was transferring to Florida State, it kind of opened that door for me. As I was there, it didn't really cost them anything, and it made it a lot easier for them to get me there.

I think that definitely opened the pathway for me, but I think the first two years of college really opened a lot of doors in terms of getting my name out there and getting wins under my belt.

Q. You were kind of an outsider it sounds like?

JACK WHALEY: Yeah, so I didn't really -- this is a pretty cool fact. I think the first time I ever made a cut playing in England was when I was 17 years old in the English Amateur. First time. And I've been playing -- I played the Reid Trophy when I was 12, 13, all the way up to 17, so I never made a single cut in five, six, seven years.

Q. How many have you made since?

JACK WHALEY: Pretty much all of them. Apart from the British Am.

Q. Any golf idols growing up?

JACK WHALEY: I always looked up to Rory. I think Rory has been a big influence in terms of what he's done in his career. I've always strived to be somewhat the player that he is.

Then obviously, I've always wanted to -- actually we've had a lot of good golfers come out of Rotherham Golf Club. We've had Ben Schmidt, Jigger Thomson, who made the hole-in-one in The Open. Charlie Daughtrey was an incredible golfer when he was younger, and then two of my best friends who play at my golf club are all really good golfers. There's been a lot of inspiration coming from that golf club as well as the county of Yorkshire.

It's always just been trying to be the best and try and look up to them a little bit and try and follow them.

Q. Is that your dad on the bag?

JACK WHALEY: Yeah, it is.

Q. Is your mom here?

JACK WHALEY: Yeah, mom is here and then my girlfriend is here as well.

Q. How are they enjoying the week so far?

JACK WHALEY: Well, they enjoyed it a little bit more before today because they could see a little bit more. There were a lot more crowds today, so they were weaving in and out of the crowd to try and see. If any of you got the power to get them a badge so she can get a little bit closer, she might appreciate that.