Englishman Whaley wins US Amateur title

Jack Whaley has etched his name in golf history, becoming only the second Englishman to claim the prestigious US Amateur Championship since 1911. The 22-year-old triumphed over American Jay Leng Jr. at Merion, winning 4&3 in the 36-hole final.

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Victory will give the 22-year-old a place in the field for the Masters, US Open and The Open at St Andrews in 2027.

This significant victory grants Whaley automatic berths into three major championships: the Masters, the US Open, and The Open at St Andrews in 2027. He entered the match as a considerable underdog against Leng Jr., who ranked significantly higher in the world amateur golf rankings.

The match saw Whaley overcome an early deficit, trailing by two holes after the opening 18. However, he mounted a remarkable comeback, securing back-to-back birdies and winning four consecutive holes in the second round. A crucial misread putt by Leng Jr. on the 12th hole extended Whaley's lead, ultimately paving the way for his historic win.

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Whaley fought back superbly, making back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes of his second round on his way to winning four holes consecutively.

Whaley's achievement places him in elite company. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the US Amateur in 2013 and later secured the US Open in 2022. The only other Englishman to win the title previously was Harold Hilton in 1911. Scotland's Richie Ramsay is the only other British winner since 1898, triumphing in 2006. The championship's legacy includes past winners like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

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Whaley rounded off his win with a superb left-to-right putt for birdie at 15 to become the first English amateur to triumph in the US Amateur since Matt Fitzpatrick in 2013.