OAKMONT, Pa. — J.J. Spaun faced the toughest challenge in golf on one of its most difficult courses under dire weather conditions. Yet, he transformed this dismal, rainy Sunday at Oakmont into an unforgettable finish at the U.S. Open.
The unexpected champion delivered two memorable shots. His first came on the 314-yard 17th hole, where he drove onto the green, securing a birdie with just two putts. Then, on the 18th hole, needing two putts from 65 feet to clinch the title, he sank the longest putt of the week for another birdie and finished with a score of 2-over 72.
Amidst the chaos that Oakmont presented due to heavy rains, Spaun overcame an early setback that would have dashed the hopes of more seasoned players. He held his composure under pressure to seize this significant victory. “I never thought I would be here holding this trophy,” said Spaun, who climbed from No. 119 to No. 8 in the world rankings with this victory. “I’ve always had goals and dreams, striving to be the best golfer I can be.”
Spaun finished at 1-under 279, the only player to finish at par, winning by two strokes over Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who witnessed the thrilling conclusion from the scoring room. The final hour saw five players tied for the lead, but as the event progressed, many contenders faltered, including Sam Burns and Adam Scott, unable to maintain their earlier momentum.
Despite lacking the elite pedigree of many competitors, Spaun’s journey to this win was marked by resilience. Beginning the final round one shot behind, he faced a tough stretch with five bogeys in six holes, including a particularly painful one on the second, where a shot hit the pin and bounced drastically back. “I just committed to each shot, digging deep throughout,” he reflected on his performance.
The relentless rain nearly rendered Oakmont unplayable and could have been Spaun’s saving grace. After trailing by four shots at one point, a rain delay reshaped the day’s energy. Remarkably, he managed only one bogey after that. The magic of his finale was undeniable; after an impressive shot on the 17th, he made the crucial final putt, thrilling the soaked spectators as his ball dropped into the hole, solidifying his victory.
Amid the awe of his fellow competitors, including MacIntyre who praised his incredible finish, Spaun emerged as the unexpected U.S. Open champion—nobody anticipated this at the start of the year or even during the round.
