Ryder Cowan Upsets Miles Russell 2&1 at U.S. Amateur With Just 2 Golf Balls

Q: How did a collegiate golfer defeat a world-class prodigy at a historic championship using only one new and one heavily used golf ball?

Ryder Cowan beat Miles Russell because he played steadier golf under pressure, not because of his equipment. At the U.S. Amateur at Merion, Cowan — an Oklahoma senior and the No. 59 seed — had only two balls in his bag after forgetting extra sleeves: one new ball and one heavily used ball. He used the new ball for the first 10 holes, then switched to the used one for the final stretch and still closed out a 2-and-1 upset over the world No. 4 amateur and No. 6 seed. The shortage never turned into a real disadvantage because Cowan kept the ball in play and stayed composed on a course that rewards precision more than power. He built momentum by taking a 2-up lead after nine holes, then responded after Russell fought back to tie the match through 12. Cowan made critical par saves on the 14th and 15th holes, then won the 16th to go 1 up when Russell got out of position. The decisive moment came on Merion’s par-3 17th. After hitting long and finding a brutal lie in the rough, Cowan flubbed his first chip but then holed the second for a remarkable par. Russell still had a chance to extend the match, but missed his short putt, ending it there. So the answer is simple: Cowan won with patience, clutch short-game execution and mistake control. The two-ball mishap became a curiosity, but his composure and timely shot-making were what actually toppled Russell.

Q: Could an embarrassing equipment blunder actually be the secret psychological weapon that fueled one of the biggest upsets in U.S. Amateur history?

Probably not as a “secret weapon” in any literal sense, but the blunder may have helped Ryder Cowan mentally by stripping the match down to basics. Cowan’s upset of Miles Russell at Merion was built on elite play, not on forgotten equipment. He is not a fluke underdog: he is ranked No. 8 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, was co-low amateur at the U.S. Open this summer, and had already survived a 16-man playoff just to reach match play. Against Russell, the world No. 4 and No. 6 seed, Cowan made key par saves on 14 and 15, won 16, and then chipped in for par on 17 to close out a 2-and-1 victory. Still, the two-ball mistake may have had a useful psychological effect. With only one new ball and one heavily used ball, Cowan had little room for overthinking gear, ball choice, or adjustments. On a course like Merion, where precision and patience matter more than power, that kind of forced simplicity can sharpen focus. Cowan himself has spoken this summer about learning patience, and that trait showed under pressure. The stronger evidence is that the mishap did not rattle him. In match play, emotional control is often decisive, and Cowan stayed composed despite the crowd backing Russell, the pressure of a marquee Round of 64 match, and even a flubbed chip on 17 before holing the next one. So the equipment error was less a hidden advantage than a revealing detail: it showed how steady Cowan was in a high-stakes upset.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 13

Ryder Cowan beat No. 6 seed Miles Russell 2&1 at Merion after arriving for the U.S. Amateur match with only one new ball and one used ball.
The Oklahoma senior had forgotten to bring fresh sleeves, then used the new ball for the first 10 holes before switching to the worn one.
Hole 17 decided it: Cowan flubbed an initial chip on the par-3, then holed his next attempt for par to close out the upset.
The result knocked out one of amateur golf's biggest young stars—Russell is the top-ranked junior in the world and No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Cowan had already survived a 16-man playoff for 11 spots to reach the 64-player match-play bracket as the No. 59 seed, underscoring the scale of the surprise.