J.J. Spaun transformed a chaotic U.S. Open at Oakmont into a remarkable victory, showcasing his skills with two exceptional shots that led him to his first major championship on Sunday.
His pivotal moment came on the 314-yard 17th hole, where a precise drive landed on the green, setting up a birdie that propelled him into the lead. With a 65-foot putt needed on the 18th to clinch the title, Spaun executed the longest putt of the week, finishing with a 2-over 72.
This performance made him the only player to finish under par, concluding the tournament at 1-under 279 and securing a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre.
At 36, Spaun, who bears a striking resemblance to the late Franco Harris, achieved major champion status in just his second U.S. Open appearance. "I never thought I would be here holding this trophy," he remarked, reflecting on his journey from being ranked No. 119 in the world last year with only one PGA Tour title. "I always had aspirations and dreams. I never knew what my ceiling was. I'm just trying to be the best golfer I can be."
For many competitors, the day was fraught with difficulties.
Sam Burns, who held a two-shot lead heading to the 11th tee, faced disaster with a double bogey from a divot and a challenging lie in the wet fairway, ultimately finishing with a score of 78.
Adam Scott, aiming to break a lengthy drought between major titles, was tied for the lead with five holes remaining but faltered, shooting 79 after struggling to find the fairway. "I missed the fairway. I hadn't done that all week really. Then I did, and I paid the price," Scott explained.
Carlos Ortiz and Tyrrell Hatton also battled through difficult conditions, each making costly mistakes that dashed their hopes of victory.
The rain that threatened to render Oakmont unplayable may have inadvertently aided Spaun. Starting the day one shot behind, he opened with five bogeys in six holes, suffering from unfortunate breaks, including a shot that hit the pin and rolled back into the fairway. A rain delay lasting 1 hour and 37 minutes followed.
"The weather delay changed the whole vibe of the day," Spaun noted.
Remarkably, he managed only one bogey for the remainder of his round.
As MacIntyre emerged as a formidable competitor, he initially struggled but rallied back to birdie the 17th and secure a par on the 18th, finishing with a 68 and taking the clubhouse lead.
Three groups later, Spaun delivered a powerful fade that rolled onto the green, leaving him an 18-foot putt for victory.
With Viktor Hovland on the same line going first, Spaun confidently struck the ball through the soaked turf, watching it break right into the hole as thousands of spectators erupted in cheers.
He celebrated by raising both arms and tossing his putter before jumping into caddie Mark Carens' embrace.
The atmosphere was electric, even among those who fell short.
MacIntyre, close to becoming Scotland's first major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999, watched from scoring and applauded Spaun's achievement.
Hatton expressed mixed feelings about his own performance but found joy in Spaun's success. "Unbelievable. What a putt to win. That's incredible," he said. "I'm sad about how I finished, but I'm very happy for J.J. To win a major in that fashion is amazing."
Hovland, who finished third with a score of 73, witnessed both Spaun's struggles and triumphs throughout the day. "After his start, it just looked like he was out of it immediately," Hovland remarked. "Everyone came back to the pack."
Hatton (72) and Ortiz (73), both part of LIV Golf and competing for their first major title, tied for fourth alongside Cameron Young (70). Ortiz's consolation prize was securing a spot in next year's Masters.
Scottie Scheffler, trailing by ten shots early in the final round, remained in contention but missed several birdie opportunities, finishing with a score of 70 to tie for seventh with Jon Rahm (67) and Burns.
Through all the ups and downs of the tournament, Spaun emerged as an unexpected U.S. Open champion—an outcome few anticipated at either the beginning of the year or during his final round.
