J.J. Spaun has claimed his first major championship title in a thrilling and dramatic U.S. Open victory at Oakmont Country Club. His win wasn’t just a personal triumph; it’s being hailed as one of the greatest moments in the tournament’s storied history, offering a powerful story of perseverance and inspiration for the sport of golf.
Spaun’s path to hoisting the silver trophy was anything but conventional or easy. The 34-year-old Californian arrived at Oakmont with only one previous PGA Tour victory to his name and had never made the cut in his sole prior U.S. Open appearance. His journey included considering quitting professional golf as recently as the summer before and suffering a recent heartbreak at The Players Championship just three months prior, where he lost in a playoff. Adding to the challenge, the morning of his final round began not with focused preparation, but with a pre-dawn trip to a local drugstore to get medicine for his sick daughter – a moment Spaun himself acknowledged contributed to the chaotic feel of his initial play.
Despite the personal distractions and past disappointments, Spaun started the tournament strong, carding a superb 4-under 66 in the opening round, one of only two bogey-free rounds in the entire field. While many expected him to fade, he remained remarkably steady, staying just one stroke behind the leader, Sam Burns, after both Friday and Saturday’s rounds.
However, Sunday’s final round began disastrously. Oakmont’s notoriously difficult layout, compounded by challenging, rain-soaked conditions, seemed to overwhelm Spaun early on. He struggled immensely on the front nine, going 5-over par through the first six holes and finishing the front nine in a seemingly hopes-ending 40 strokes. He even suffered some unfortunate breaks, including hitting the flagstick and a rake.
But then came a crucial turning point: a 90-minute rain delay before he played the 9th hole. This lengthy stoppage provided Spaun with an invaluable opportunity to completely reset. He changed his clothes, adjusted his routine, and most importantly, reset his mindset. His coaches urged him to calm down, advising him to “just chill” and “let it come to you.” During this break, Spaun recognized that despite the bad breaks and poor scores, the difficult conditions meant the leaders were also struggling, keeping him within striking distance.
Emerging from the delay with renewed focus, Spaun dug deep and began to rally on the back nine, shooting an impressive 32. While leaders like Sam Burns faltered, Spaun found his rhythm, making crucial putts, including a long downhill 40-footer on the 12th to get back to even par and a 22-footer on the 14th to take the solo lead for the first time.
The championship came down to the dramatic final two holes. On the par-4 17th, a reachable but challenging hole, Spaun hit a critical drive onto the green, leaving himself an 18-foot putt for birdie. He calmly sank the putt, securing a one-shot lead heading to the par-5 18th. Needing only a par to win in the cold rain, Spaun hit a solid drive and reached the green. Then came the defining shot: a remarkable 64-foot, 5-inch putt for birdie. The longest made putt by any player on any hole all week, it curled into the cup, sealing his U.S. Open title in emphatic fashion.
By birdying the final two holes to win, J.J. Spaun joined an elite and exclusive club in U.S. Open history, becoming only the fifth player ever to accomplish the feat, alongside legends like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Jon Rahm. His victory also achieved a rare statistical feat: winning a major championship after shooting 40 or higher on one of the nines in the final round, a rarity last seen on U.S. soil by Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters.
Spaun’s unconventional journey, marked by persistence and mental fortitude, culminated in an indelible victory sealed by a putt that will live on as an instant, enduring highlight in golf history, reminiscent of iconic shots by Tiger Woods or Nick Taylor. His U.S. Open triumph is a testament to staying steady, even when chaos surrounds you, and seizing the moment when it arrives.
