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.
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The fifth-year senior at Georgia Southern will play Sam Bennett in the final match, but earns a likely invitation to the 2023 Masters by virtue of his finals appearance. The finals winner will earn exemptions into next year’s U.S. Open and Open Championship.
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.
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