U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 16, 2026

Andy Whaley

Merion Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. How do you describe what you've been a part of step by step with your son here at Merion?

ANDY WHALEY: Here at Merion has just been an incredible journey, right from the get-go at Philadelphia Country Club on Monday. We felt like we'd got the game to make match play, to get through the stroke play, but just couldn't quite find the putts, couldn't quite hole it. Obviously we ended up in the playoff to get in.

But since then, we always knew Jack is a strong match player. The upbringing he had in county golf, team golf, has all been primarily match play, and he's always performed really well one-on-one. I know he said himself that he felt a little bit more confident coming into match play, and I can understand where that is. Never knew well the aspirations to get to this stage, though. We got five back yesterday, so we didn't have any confidence, did we.

But it's incredible. Been an incredible journey all week, some fantastic matches against some fantastic golfers. We were here until 8:00 on Wednesday going to the 22nd hole. You couldn't split those two players. That was a fantastic match. We've had several matches since then that have been really close.

Jay today was really good. Jack just found his putter this afternoon, and he made putts, which was the difference in the end. But incredible, absolutely incredible.

Q. It has been some time since you last caddied and nowhere in a championship of this magnitude. Why did the partnership with your son work so well?

ANDY WHALEY: It's difficult to know. It's difficult to know. Going back to his late teen years when he was 17, 18, we performed better at a range of about 250 yards, not inches. We just liked to be a part of it, me ball spotting, watching through binoculars. But this week it just clicked. I can't explain it. I don't know why. We just thought it would be a bit of fun. We could enjoy ourselves out here.

But all I've really done is validate his decisions. I've not helped him make those decisions. I've not really given him much idea of what to do. All I wanted him to do was be free of any doubt when he stepped up to play a shot so that he could just commit and play that shot. Have you got a yardage, yes; have you got a club, yes; have you got a line; have you got a shape. Yes, yes, yes. Right, just go and execute it. That's what it was all about. Just giving him the validation to go and feel free to execute his shots.

Q. Take the caddie hat off, put the dad hat on. How would you describe the level of pride you have in your son?

ANDY WHALEY: It's just off the charts. I'm not very emotional as a rule, but this is a very emotional; I've got to be honest. Never in our wildest dreams did we think that this was possible. Jack has just achieved the impossible, frankly. That's what this is about. I just can't be proud enough of the guy. And the way he conducts himself as well. He he conducts himself well. He's quite complimentary to the opposition, congratulate a good shot, congratulate a good putt, because it's sportsmanship in the right way, golf played in the right way. If you win, great; but if you're beaten by the better guy on the day, that's fine too. Just acknowledge who's played well and congratulate them along the way.