JJ Spaun Seizes U.S. Open Title at Oakmont with Stunning Finish

⁤ Updated June 15,2025

OAKMONT,Pa. — In⁤ a dramatic turn of events,JJ Spaun navigated a challenging course and unfavorable weather to claim his⁢ first major championship at the 125th U.S. Open. Spaun’s two-stroke victory at Oakmont Country Club followed a remarkable comeback sunday.

The turning point came ⁢when Spaun birdied the 17th to grab a one-stroke lead, then sank an improbable 64-foot birdie⁤ putt ⁢on⁣ the 18th, sealing the unlikely U.S. Open victory over Robert macintyre of ⁤Scotland.

Spaun’s reaction to the final putt was one of pure elation. He dropped his putter, raised his arms in triumph,⁤ and celebrated with the crowd, his caddie Mark Carens, wife melody, and their daughters.

Despite⁢ the pressure, Spaun said he avoided looking at the scoreboard on the final fairway. “I knew, based [on] what⁤ the crowd was saying, that I felt like if ⁢I two-putted, I would probably win,” Spaun said. “But I didn’t want to look ‍because I didn’t want to play defensive.”

Spaun was ⁢the only golfer to finish under par,⁤ posting a 1-under 279. His final⁣ round included a 2-over 72, with a strong 3-under performance on the back nine. The victory earned Spaun $4.3 million, ⁢the largest payout of ⁤his career. MacIntyre finished at 1-over 281,while Viktor Hovland of Norway took third at⁢ 2-over 282.

Spaun’s path to victory included a precise 309-yard drive on the⁢ par-4 17th, setting up a birdie. On the ⁢18th, amid falling rain, he hit his approach shot 64 feet from the hole, leading to the decisive ⁤putt.

Tyrrell Hatton, watching from nearby, commented on Spaun’s winning putt: “He’s holed it. Incredible. What a putt to win. That’s incredible.”

Spaun began the day one stroke behind leader Sam Burns but quickly fell behind after struggling on the early holes. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Spaun is the first⁢ U.S.Open champion to start his final round with three consecutive holes over par and only the fifth ⁤to finish birdie-birdie⁣ on the final two holes.

“It felt like, as bad as things‍ were going, I just still tried to just commit to every shot,” Spaun⁣ said.”I tried to just continue to⁤ dig deep. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”

Spaun credited a ‍weather delay for helping him regroup. His coach, Josh Gregory, advised him to relax.”That break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament,” Spaun said.

The U.S. Open win marks the⁣ pinnacle of Spaun’s career. His previous PGA Tour victory was at the 2022 Valero Texas Open.Currently ranked 25th in the world, Spaun ⁣has had a strong season, including a runner-up finish at the Players Championship.

Adam Scott described⁣ the challenging conditions: “Look, it just wasn’t easy out there. All things being equal, it’s Sunday of ⁣the ‍U.S.Open, one of ⁣the hardest setups, and the conditions were the hardest of the week.”

The final round saw six golfers share the lead⁢ at various points. Burns, who led after 54 holes, faltered with a double bogey on ⁣the 15th. MacIntyre’s‍ attempt to reach even par fell short on the 18th.

Hovland acknowledged the unpredictable ⁣nature of the day. “After ⁣his start, it just looked like he was out of it immediately,” Hovland ‍said. “Everyone came back to the pack. I wasn’t expecting that,realy.”

What’s next

With his U.S. Open victory, JJ Spaun has solidified his place among golf’s elite and looks forward to competing in future major championships.