U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 16, 2026

Jack Whaley

Merion Golf Club

TV Quick Quotes

Q. A few moments ago on this green you had a putt to win the U.S. Amateur championship. What's going through your mind? How were you able to finish a dream right here at Merion?

JACK WHALEY: I think it all goes down to my dad. He's helped me so much this week. Honestly, I can't thank him enough for it. He was just telling me, just keep going, just keep playing. It's just a huge honor to be able to experience this with my dad and hole that eight-footer on the last.

Q. As you told me yesterday, he has not caddied for you in quite some time. To have this moment with him at the U.S. Amateur, where does this rank in all the things you've done in this game?

JACK WHALEY: No. 1. It's the top of the list. I don't think anything is going to top this. It's a huge honor to be able to win. I'm very thankful to everyone else who's out here today and getting wet. I'm sorry if you're getting a little bit out here. I'm wet myself.

It means the world to me. It's definitely No. 1.

Q. Speaking of the weather, where was your level of comfort as the rain picked up and got a little breezy here in the afternoon 18?

JACK WHALEY: Yeah, it just felt like home. You know, I've played so much golf in rain, wind, that it almost felt like I was kind of used to it a little bit, and Dad was just telling me, Listen, you've played a lot of this in your time. You just need to keep playing how you are and you'll be fine. Honestly, it just felt -- I kind of just tried to block it out as much as I could and just tried to keep dry. Whoever was giving the towels out, thank you to them because I wouldn't have been able to keep the grips dry without them. So yeah, it felt good.

Q. You were 2-down at lunch. How did you reset and what changed for you in the afternoon 18 for you to take charge?

JACK WHALEY: I think it was just the putting, to be honest. I think I holed a lot more putts this afternoon. Thanks to Coach Jones, wherever he's at, for coming on the putting green with me. I think it was just getting confidence back into my head that I'm a good putter and I can definitely roll it.

I think it's just all down to my putting, and yeah, that's pretty much it, yeah.

Q. You talk about Trey Jones, Ben Rickett, your former coach at Dalton State. To see them out here to celebrate this moment, what does it speak about the relationships you have with both of them?

JACK WHALEY: I mean, thank you, guys, for coming out here to get wet today. I mean, it's a huge honor to be able to have you guys here just for the final, but to win in front of you guys as well is just amazing. I owe you one, so thank you.

Q. You told me yesterday you headed into this week with few expectations. You survived a 16-for-11 playoff Wednesday morning to get into match play. From the start of this week to the end of it, what did you prove to yourself and maybe everyone else?

JACK WHALEY: I think I proved that I'm good at match play. I think coming through and just scraping through the playoff, it opened my eyes that I was inside the top 64 players in the world and that my game is good enough. Knowing that I've played a lot of match play over the years, I kind of was very confident going into the matches. I think it's all thanks to the upbringing that I had and county golf and Sheffield Union that have really got me ready for this moment.

Q. No course has more USGA championship history than right here at Merion. When you and I talked earlier this week, we saw the picture of Justin Rose behind us on the wall. Knowing that you're joining elite history, Bobby Jones in 1930, how do you process the fact that you'll forever be known as a national champ here at Merion?

JACK WHALEY: I don't think it's sunk in yet. But it's definitely a huge honor to be able to be part of the names of all the famous people and unbelievable golfers that have come through this golf course and won. Yeah, I don't really have words for it right now.

Q. I know you've got a big season coming up at Florida State. Do you think you can carve out some time for Pebble Beach and St Andrews and likely Augusta National?

JACK WHALEY: I'm sure I can figure it out.

Q. Let's come full circle; you mentioned your dad off the top. To have him here, your mom, your girlfriend, three people that mean so much to you when you've had some highs and lows, how do you give them the thanks for being there every step of the way?

JACK WHALEY: I might buy them some dinner tonight. They've flew a long way, and Sarah, she's been amazing. She's drove me around for the last two weeks. She went to Chicago with me last week. We drove from Georgia and then we drove this week. I'm going to have to drive back with her probably tomorrow. I can't thank her enough. She's amazing.