The Loop

Goss triumph over countryman Watt to reach finals

August 17, 2013

__By Ryan Herrington

BROOKLINE, Mass.—Oliver Goss__ and Brady Watt were "mates" before their semifinal match Saturday at the 113th U.S. Amateur, and they'll remain so afterward. But in the clash of countrymen, somebody was always going to have to win and somebody was always going to have to lose.

In the end it was Goss, 19, who came out on top again, beating Watt, 22, 2 up to advance to the final and a 36-hole match Sunday at The Country Club with England's Matt Fitzpatrick.

How is Watt showing there are no hard feelings toward Goss for knocking out? By agreeing to caddie for him during Sunday's final. Goss' caddie for the week__Taylor McDonald__, had a problem with his travel schedule so Watt said he'd step in.

"I think we both bring the best out of ourselves," Watt said. "I hope all the best for him tomorrow, and I hope he can dig deep enough and get the results he wants."

Watt took an early lead when he won the first hole with a par, but birdies by Goss on the third and fourth holes gave him the edge. He extend it to 2 up by the seventh hole, but Watt would get the match back to all square by the 10th.

The back-and-forth match went in Goss' favor for good on the 11th hole when Watt couldn't make a par putt and conceded a birdie for Goss. Watt looked like he was going to square things up again on the 14th when he made a birdie putt on the difficult uphole par 4, but Goss topped his birdie with one of his own from 30 feet.

"That was definitely a game changer," Goss said. "It really looked like I was going to be going even with four holes to play, and to sink that putt was just unbelievable. I don't know if I could do it again if I had 100 balls."

The duo halved the next three holes, forcing Watt to have to win the par-4 18th to extend the match. His approach shot, however, went long and left while Goss found the green in regulation 25 feet from the hole. Watt's chip went eight feet by and when he couldn't hole the par come-backer, he conceded the match.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, all the things that come along with being a finalist like playing in the Masters and the U.S. Open. I'm definitely trying to keep as calm as possible but it definitely hasn't sunk in and I don't think it will for at least a couple of days.