JJ Spaun won his first major title at the US Open, battling torrential rain, a lengthy suspension of play, and a late surge from Robert MacIntyre on a dramatic final day at Oakmont Country Club.
The 34-year-old American sealed the championship with a remarkable 64-foot birdie putt on the 18th, finishing at one-under-par, two shots clear of the field.
The monster putt drew applause from MacIntyre, who was watching on a screen and simply mouthed, “wow” in admiration.
MacIntyre came agonisingly close to making a major breakthrough of his own at a venue often considered the toughest in golf. Starting seven shots behind the leader, he carded a superb two-under-par 68. He was the only member of the overnight top-10 to shoot under par on the final day.
But Spaun responded with brilliance of his own, birdieing the 17th to move to level par before his dramatic finale sent the soaked crowds into a frenzy.
The win marked an extraordinary comeback for Spaun, who began the round a stroke behind 54-hole leader Sam Burns. A disastrous start that included five bogeys in his first six holes had seemingly taken him out of the picture.
Then came the weather disruption. Play was halted for 90 minutes due to intense rainfall, but Spaun used the break to reset. He posted a 40 on the front nine, but rebounded with a stunning 32 on the back.
THE LONE SURVIVOR AT OAKMONT 🏆
J.J. Spaun is the champion of the 125th U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/1WVK8Wi4hb
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2025
“I never thought I would be here holding this trophy,” Spaun admitted.
“I’ve always had aspirations and dreams but a few months ago I didn’t know what my ceiling was and how good I could be.”
Burns, who had led after both the second and third rounds, faltered under the weight of expectation and the weather, carding a disastrous eight-over round. His playing partner Adam Scott, fared even worse at nine-over.
The back nine became a battlefield, with as many as five players tied at one over par at one point, including England’s Tyrrell Hatton.
Hatton played superbly for most of the round but a costly stumble at the 17th saw him finish four shots adrift.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland was another contender who couldn’t quite put together a full round. Four early bogeys set him back, though a steady even-par inward nine helped him secure third place at three over.
“I missed three five-foot putts and you can’t be doing that if you’re going to win a major championship,” said the Ryder Cup star.
Pump that fist, J.J. 👊
You're a U.S. Open champion. pic.twitter.com/BSGg6joGVH
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2025
Spaun’s Resilience
Earlier in the season at The Players Championship, Spaun had narrowly missed a 31-foot birdie on the 18th that would’ve beaten Rory McIlroy. He lost that tournament in a playoff, but at Oakmont, redemption came from twice the distance.
His closing birdie not only secured victory but made him the sole player to finish under par for the championship. Spaun had also shot the only bogey-free round of the tournament, a sparkling 66 on Thursday.
The final round, however, was anything but smooth. He endured brutal misfortune, his approach at the second struck the flagstick and ricocheted 50 yards away, while a bounce off a rake at the fourth contributed to his early setback.
Yet when most others faltered, Spaun gathered himself after the rain delay. Long-range birdie putts of 40 and 22 feet rekindled his momentum.
Despite a bogey at 15, a brilliant tee shot at the short par-four 17th set up another birdie, setting the stage for his unforgettable finishing touch.
