Photo by: USGA
James Piot Wins the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship
8/15/2021 7:58:00 PM | Men's Golf
Michigan State's James Piot is the 2021 U.S. Amateur Champion. Piot defeated Austin Greaser of the University of North Carolina 2 & 1 in the championship match on Sunday at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Piot trailed Greaser by three after 27 holes on Sunday, but four straight wins and five out of six for Piot gave him a lead he would not relinquish.
>> USGA U.S. Amateur Home | Photos
Up two on the 35th hole of the day, Piot sank a par putt to put the pressure on Greaser to extend the match with a birdie. Greaser's putt just missed, giving Piot the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship.
"It's the greatest feeling in the world. I mean, as an amateur it's the best thing you can do," Piot said. "It was making that putt on 17 was just like, 'Oh, my God. I might've done it.'"
Piot, who is a native of Canton, is the first U.S. Amateur Champion to be born in the State of Michigan. He's also the first Spartan to ever win the title.
"Coming from Michigan it's a phenomenal feeling being able to grind from a guy who wasn't highly sought after to U.S. Am champ," Piot said. "It's just a phenomenal feeling. It validates where I ended up and feels like there was a purpose to going to Michigan State. I have definitely developed as a player since I have been at Michigan State."
Piot, who trailed a total of just nine holes through his first five matches at the U.S. Amateur, started his comeback on Sunday on the 28th hole, getting his first birdie - and win - of the afternoon. Piot hit a perfect approach that set up a short birdie putt, which he drained, cutting the deficit to two.
"Definitely seeing that birdie drop was a big confidence booster," Piot said. "I told myself on that tee box, I said, 'I'm going to play this nine 4-under.' That's what I put in my head after 3-under, so it is great."
Greaser then missed a par putt on the 29th, giving Piot his second straight win and lowering the deficit to 1. Piot drew even with Greaser on the 30th hole with this third straight win.
Piot made it four straight wins on the 31st hole of the day to take the lead, 1-up.
A near 20-foot putt by Greaser on the 32nd hole kept Piot from building his lead. But on the following hole – the 15th at Oakmont - Greaser's tee shot found a bunker, leading to a bogey. Piot birdied the hole to take a 2-up lead with four to go.
Both players made par on the next hole – the par-3 16th. On the 35th hole, Piot got into the bunker, but bounced back drained a 15-foot putt for par. Greaser's par putt just missed, giving Piot the title.
"My coach walked up to me and he was like, 'How do you feel on this putt?'" Piot said. "I said I feel pretty good about this one. Kind of had a similar look this morning. So just rolled end over end and it was perfect."
With the U.S. Amateur title and Havemeyer Trophy in hand, Piot receives an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Open and the 2022 Open Championship. He'll also likely receive an invitation to the 2022 Masters.
In the morning 18 holes, Piot erased an early deficit then tied things up on No. 9. He then won the next two holes to take a 2-up lead.
Greaser then won three of the next four holes to regain the edge, but Piot bounced back, winning the 16th and 18th holes to take a 1-up lead into the break.
Greaser won three of the first four holes to begin the second 18 to go 2-up.
Following the break after the morning 18 holes, Greaser had opportunities to extend his lead on the 25th and 26th holes, but wasn't able to do so as Piot stayed within 2. However on the 27th hole, Greaser was able to make a par, while Piot bogeyed, to push the advantage to 3 heading into the final nine holes.
>> USGA U.S. Amateur Home | Photos
Up two on the 35th hole of the day, Piot sank a par putt to put the pressure on Greaser to extend the match with a birdie. Greaser's putt just missed, giving Piot the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship.
"It's the greatest feeling in the world. I mean, as an amateur it's the best thing you can do," Piot said. "It was making that putt on 17 was just like, 'Oh, my God. I might've done it.'"
Piot, who is a native of Canton, is the first U.S. Amateur Champion to be born in the State of Michigan. He's also the first Spartan to ever win the title.
"Coming from Michigan it's a phenomenal feeling being able to grind from a guy who wasn't highly sought after to U.S. Am champ," Piot said. "It's just a phenomenal feeling. It validates where I ended up and feels like there was a purpose to going to Michigan State. I have definitely developed as a player since I have been at Michigan State."
Piot, who trailed a total of just nine holes through his first five matches at the U.S. Amateur, started his comeback on Sunday on the 28th hole, getting his first birdie - and win - of the afternoon. Piot hit a perfect approach that set up a short birdie putt, which he drained, cutting the deficit to two.
"Definitely seeing that birdie drop was a big confidence booster," Piot said. "I told myself on that tee box, I said, 'I'm going to play this nine 4-under.' That's what I put in my head after 3-under, so it is great."
Greaser then missed a par putt on the 29th, giving Piot his second straight win and lowering the deficit to 1. Piot drew even with Greaser on the 30th hole with this third straight win.
Piot made it four straight wins on the 31st hole of the day to take the lead, 1-up.
A near 20-foot putt by Greaser on the 32nd hole kept Piot from building his lead. But on the following hole – the 15th at Oakmont - Greaser's tee shot found a bunker, leading to a bogey. Piot birdied the hole to take a 2-up lead with four to go.
Both players made par on the next hole – the par-3 16th. On the 35th hole, Piot got into the bunker, but bounced back drained a 15-foot putt for par. Greaser's par putt just missed, giving Piot the title.
"My coach walked up to me and he was like, 'How do you feel on this putt?'" Piot said. "I said I feel pretty good about this one. Kind of had a similar look this morning. So just rolled end over end and it was perfect."
With the U.S. Amateur title and Havemeyer Trophy in hand, Piot receives an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Open and the 2022 Open Championship. He'll also likely receive an invitation to the 2022 Masters.
In the morning 18 holes, Piot erased an early deficit then tied things up on No. 9. He then won the next two holes to take a 2-up lead.
Greaser then won three of the next four holes to regain the edge, but Piot bounced back, winning the 16th and 18th holes to take a 1-up lead into the break.
Greaser won three of the first four holes to begin the second 18 to go 2-up.
Following the break after the morning 18 holes, Greaser had opportunities to extend his lead on the 25th and 26th holes, but wasn't able to do so as Piot stayed within 2. However on the 27th hole, Greaser was able to make a par, while Piot bogeyed, to push the advantage to 3 heading into the final nine holes.
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/ Men's Golf
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