Ben Carr gets emotional after winning his semifinal match at the 2022 U.S. Amateur.
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Ben Carr uses a special marker, to remember his father who passed away in 2019. But at the start of his U.S. Amateur semifinal match, he had no idea where it was.
“On the first tee… I couldn’t find it,” Carr told NBC Sports’ Smiley Kaufman after his match. “I emptied out my pockets, there was nothing. I emptied out my bag. I couldn’t find it in my bag.”
When he needed it most, he found it.
“I’m over my putt on 16, and it’s just in my left pocket,” Carr said before getting emotional. “I don’t know how. I swear to god, I checked. I checked my pocket, I swear to god.”
Carr made par on the 16th hole at Ridgewood Country Club and then watched as opponent Derek Hitchner missed his birdie try, giving Carr at 3 and 2 win and a spot in the finals on Sunday.
Carr’s brother and mother were on hand to watch his victory Saturday, and while emotions got the best of him at times during his interview, he reiterated how grateful he was for the support he had at the tournament.
“I just have so much support here, and we’re so far from home,” Carr said. “There’s just so many people that came to watch. …”
Then he did something we all can relate to: cursed on camera and immediately apologized for it. Kaufman then pointed out the rainbow behind Carr as he was overtaken with emotion again.
After the interview, Carr’s family and friends surrounded him before letting the excitement for what comes Sunday take over.
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.