How Jack Whaley turned around the U.S. Amateur final between rounds

The U.S. Amateur final is one of the most demanding tests in amateur golf. It lasts all day and covers 36 holes: players complete one round in the morning and another after a break, while spectators walk alongside the match and remain close to every shot. In that format, the ability to adjust during the day can matter as much as the opening game plan.

That adaptability became central to the victory of the newest U.S. Amateur champion, Jack Whaley. Whaley recently joined GOLF’s Subpar podcast and discussed the changes he made during his 36-hole final against Jay Leng Jr. last weekend. After the first half of the match, Whaley was behind, but he used the break to make a precise adjustment before returning to the course.

The final initially looked promising for Whaley. At one point he was 2 up, but by the end of the morning’s 18 holes the match had turned completely around: Leng Jr. was 2 up after the opening half. Whaley said the main problem involved the speed of the greens. He struggled to control the pace of his putts during the morning round, and that lack of feel affected the result.

Rather than simply wait for the second part of the match, Whaley went to the putting green with his coach, Trey Jones. Their focus was not a wholesale technical rebuild, but a specific effort to restore his feel for speed and putting pace.

“I went to the putting green and dialed the speed down,” Whaley said. He added that coach Trey Jones noticed another small detail that needed attention. After that, Whaley said, the right feel suddenly clicked and his preparation for the second half became much more confident.

“Coach Trey Jones noticed a little bit I needed to work on, and it somehow clicked and I was on the tee 15 minutes early because I thought I was really ready to get out there and play again,” Whaley said.

That detail is particularly significant in the U.S. Amateur final format. Players have limited time between the two 18-hole rounds, so a complete swing rebuild or a lengthy technical review could make the challenge more complicated. Whaley and Jones used the break for a narrower purpose: regaining control of green speed and restoring confidence before the match resumed.

Weather also shaped the second half of the final. Sunday at Merion Golf Club was cold and rainy. For Whaley, those conditions were not only a test but also a possible advantage. He grew up playing in England, where cool, wet weather is a familiar part of golf, and he felt that experience could help him.

“You kind of get used to those conditions and I think it gave me a little advantage,” Whaley said. His father, who caddied for him during the final, reinforced that point at an important moment.

When the pair were walking up to the sixth hole and the rain was falling heavily, Whaley’s father told him: “Listen, you have played a lot more golf in these conditions. This is your time.”

The match then moved decisively in Whaley’s favor. With his father as caddie, he defeated Jay Leng Jr. 4 and 3 at Merion Golf Club to become the latest U.S. Amateur champion. The victory reflected several connected decisions rather than one isolated moment: identifying the putting-speed problem, working with Trey Jones on the practice green, returning to the tee 15 minutes early and embracing the cold rain.

The final also illustrates the unusual demands of the U.S. Amateur format. In match play, an advantage can disappear within a few holes, while a 36-hole final requires a player to maintain concentration for far longer than a standard round. Whaley began the day 2 up, was 2 down after 18 holes, and used the interval not merely to recover emotionally but to make a specific technical correction.

Family support was another part of the story. Whaley’s father carried the bag and helped him navigate the course, but he also reminded the player of a genuine strength when the rain intensified. Whaley’s English background became a practical asset: familiar weather helped him approach the second half with greater confidence.

The Merion Golf Club final therefore became a clear example of how a match can change between rounds. Whaley did not abandon his overall plan or attempt to overhaul his game. He worked with Trey Jones to improve his control of putting speed, felt ready 15 minutes before returning to the tee and then relied on his experience in cold, rainy conditions. The result was a comeback from 2 down after 18 holes to a 4-and-3 victory and the U.S. Amateur title.

GOLF presented the full conversation with Jack Whaley through the Subpar podcast and the accompanying video.