J.J. Spaun Wins Wild US Open in Dramatic Fashion, Conquering Oakmont, Rain, and a Crowded Leaderboard
OAKMONT, PA — On a wild, rain-soaked Sunday at the 125th U.S. Open, J.J. Spaun delivered a gutsy, storybook finish that capped off one of the most chaotic final rounds in recent major history. With lightning in the sky, five players tied for the lead, and Oakmont Country Club baring its legendary teeth, Spaun overcame a disastrous front nine, a weather delay, and intense pressure to win his first major title in unforgettable style.
The moment that sealed it? A jaw-dropping 64-foot birdie putt in a downpour on the 18th green — one that sent the crowd into shock and Spaun into the history books.
A Nightmare Start — Then the Storm (and Spaun) Reset Everything
Spaun looked like a man unraveling early on Sunday. After starting the day tied for second, he carded five bogeys in his first six holes. His Thursday magic — a bogey-free 66 — seemed long gone.
Then, nature intervened.
A torrential downpour halted play just after 4 p.m. ET, forcing players and thousands of soaked fans to flee for shelter. Spaun, playing in the penultimate group, took cover — and found something else during the delay: composure.
When play resumed over an hour later, Spaun returned a different golfer. He played the next three holes even, then birdied 12 and 14 to take the outright lead. A bogey on 15 brought the field back into a five-way tie, but Spaun wasn’t done.
A Clutch Drive and a Legendary Putt
The tournament turned for good on the par-4 17th — a 314-yard, drivable hole where many players found disaster. Not Spaun.
He ripped a 309-yard drive onto the green, setting up an 18-foot eagle attempt. Though the eagle didn’t fall, the birdie gave him a one-shot cushion heading to the final hole.
On 18, rain again poured down. Spaun found the fairway and hit a solid approach to leave himself 64 feet from the hole. Two putts would’ve secured a tie. Instead, he rolled the ball in.
64 feet, 5 inches. Birdie. U.S. Open champion.
The crowd erupted as Spaun threw his putter into the air and embraced his caddie in celebration.
Burns, Scott, and Hatton Falter Down the Stretch
The story of Sunday wasn’t just Spaun’s brilliance — it was also the carnage around him.
Sam Burns and Adam Scott, the final pairing, started strong but fell apart as conditions worsened. Burns led by two shots after 10 holes but crumbled on the back nine, carding three bogeys and two double bogeys after the rain delay. Scott, the sentimental favorite chasing a second major at age 44, also faded with four bogeys and a double of his own.
Tyrrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz surged into contention late, but mistakes on the closing holes — including a costly bogey from Hatton on 17 — knocked them out.
Robert MacIntyre, playing a few groups ahead, posted a 2-under 68 and finished at 1-over for the tournament, temporarily tied for the lead. But Spaun’s birdie on 17 and miracle on 18 ended any hopes of a playoff.
Oakmont Lives Up to Its Brutal Reputation
All week, Oakmont had been relentless — fast greens, thick rough, and tight fairways punished even the slightest errors. Sunday’s weather made things even more difficult.
The rain delay flipped the momentum, turning lightning-fast greens soft and sticky, and the rough even more penal. What followed was survival golf: a war of attrition where every par felt like a small victory and bogeys were contagious.
Burns, Scott, Spaun, Hatton, MacIntyre, and Ortiz all took turns leading or co-leading. For much of the back nine, five players were tied at 1-over — a rare logjam that kept fans glued to every swing.
Spaun’s First Major — and a Career-Changing Moment
For J.J. Spaun, this wasn’t just a win — it was a coming-of-age. The 33-year-old, long seen as a solid tour player without a major breakthrough, showed remarkable grit to bounce back from a collapse and seize control under the most intense pressure imaginable.
Oakmont demanded perfection. Spaun gave it just when it mattered most.
Final Leaderboard (Top 5)
- J.J. Spaun — Even (Final Round 72)
- T-2. Robert MacIntyre — +1
- T-2. Tyrrell Hatton — +1
- T-2. Sam Burns — +1
- T-2. Adam Scott — +1
Key Moments:
- Weather Delay: Over 90 minutes halted play as rain pounded Oakmont.
- Spaun’s Drive on 17: A 309-yard shot onto the green set up a tournament-turning birdie.
- 64-Foot Birdie Putt: Spaun sinks a long-range birdie in the rain on 18 to win.
- Burns Collapse: Two double bogeys and three bogeys after the delay derailed his chances.
- Five-Way Tie: On the back nine, five players shared the lead — until Spaun pulled ahead.
Source: CNN – J.J. Spaun wins the 125th US Open, outlasting a brutal course, a crowded leaderboard and Mother Nature
