Union Jack took on a new meaning Sunday, when Englishman Jack Whaley won the 2026 U.S. Amateur over Jay Leng Jr., 4 & 3.
Whaley started his week at Merion Golf Club as the 60th seed. On Wednesday, he was part of a 16-for-11 playoff to advance to match play. And then, suddenly, he was facing 15th seed Leng Jr. for the Havemeyer Trophy and Tiger Woods Medal.
The 22-year-old from Florida State went 1 up on the first hole Sunday morning and was able to maintain at least a share of the lead through 12, but Leng Jr., a 20-year-old from Stanford, birdied the par-3 13th to take the lead outright and maintained it through the rest of the morning round.
Whaley credited his putting as the reason he was able to swing the momentum back in his favor in the afternoon. He started gaining on Leng Jr. at the 20th hole. Despite an out of bounds in the pouring rain at the 24th and a penalty at the 29th, he was able get up to 4 up, ultimately winning the match on the the 33rd hole — the par-4 15th. His dad, Andy, was on his bag.
Leng Jr. had the chance to extend at the 15th with a long birdie putt, but the ball rolled just left of the hole — mere inches being the difference.
Whaley is the third Englishman to win the U.S. Amateur, joining Matt Fitzpatrick (2013) and Harold Hilton (1911).
With his win, Whaley also receives a number of exemptions into future tournaments as long as he remains an amateur. Those include the next 10 years of the U.S. Amateur and The Amateur Championship, the 2027 Masters Tournament and the 2027 Open Championship. Whether he turns pro or not, he also receives an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open.
Leng Jr. doesn't leave empty-handed. He will join Whaley with exemptions into the Masters and U.S. Open, although he must remain an amateur for the latter.
In addition to legendary Augusta National, the exemptions come ahead of the U.S. Open and Open playing at two of the game's most iconic courses: Pebble Beach and St Andrews.
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