Oakmont, Pennsylvania – J.J. Spaun’s victory at the 125th U.S. Open was nothing short of dramatic. After battling a brutal course, a relentless weather delay, and a packed leaderboard, Spaun emerged victorious, capturing his first major title in a thrilling finish at Oakmont Country Club.
A Rough Start and the Weather Delay
Spaun began the final round in a tough spot, carding five bogeys in the first six holes, which seemed to take him out of contention. The rain started pouring down in the afternoon, causing a stoppage in play for over an hour and a half, further complicating the situation for the players.
When play resumed, Spaun, who had earlier declared that he was playing the best golf of his life after his solid opening round, came back with renewed focus. He shot pars on the first three holes back and then birdied the 12th and 14th holes to briefly take a one-stroke lead.
Despite a bogey on the 15th, which created a five-way tie for the lead, Spaun remained steady, and it was his brilliance on the 17th hole that made the difference. A 308-yard drive on the par-4 17th found the green, leaving him with a chance for a birdie. Spaun’s steady two-putt sealed the birdie, giving him the lead with just the 18th hole to play.
The Final Hole and Spaun’s Moment of Magic
As Spaun walked down the 18th fairway, he needed a par to win, but the weather once again took a turn for the worse. The rain began to fall heavily as Spaun faced a challenging 64-foot putt to secure his victory.
Despite the challenging conditions, Spaun sank the putt, sending the crowd into a frenzy and sealing his U.S. Open title. Spaun threw his putter into the air, embraced his caddie, and was overwhelmed by the magnitude of his accomplishment.
The Unfolding Drama and the Rain Delays
The rain delays and changing conditions played a huge role in the final round, with many of the leaders struggling to keep their momentum.
The final pairing of Sam Burns and Adam Scott had been locked in a back-and-forth battle before the rain suspended play, and after the break, the course became even more challenging. The once lightning-fast greens turned soft and slow, making approach shots more difficult to control.
Scott and Burns both struggled with the conditions, and a five-way tie for first place emerged as Spaun, Burns, Tyrell Hatton, Carlos Ortiz, and Robert MacIntyre all vied for the lead in the closing holes.
It was a brutal test of patience, and each player had to overcome the wet, slippery conditions of Oakmont to stay in contention.
A Final Push from Spaun
In the midst of the chaos, Spaun’s performance on the 17th hole gave him the momentum to take control. His drive on the 314-yard 17th nearly went in, setting up an 18-foot eagle putt that he missed but still converted for a birdie to take the lead.
Spaun made a solid par on 18, which was enough to secure the win as the rain came down in full force again.
A Historic Win at Oakmont
For Spaun, this victory marked the culmination of an incredible comeback. After seemingly playing himself out of contention early, he remained calm and collected, making key birdies and par saves to edge out a talented group of contenders.
His ability to handle the pressure, the course, and the relentless rain made him the perfect fit for Oakmont’s unforgiving test.
Spaun’s victory was a testament to his resilience, and with his first major victory in hand, he now joins the ranks of the game’s elite.
The 125th U.S. Open will be remembered not only for its challenging conditions but for the remarkable way in which J.J. Spaun outlasted them all to claim the championship.
