J.J. Spaun Battles Chaos, Rain to Win U.S. Open/ Newqslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ J.J. Spaun captured his first major title at a rain-soaked U.S. Open, sinking a dramatic 65-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch victory at Oakmont. He finished 1-under, the only player under par, after rebounding from a disastrous front nine.
On a day dominated by umbrellas, soaked fairways, and emotional swings, J.J. Spaun turned what looked like a major collapse into the defining triumph of his golf career. The 34-year-old from California braved brutal conditions at Oakmont Country Club to win the 2025 U.S. Open, ending the championship as the only player under par — a remarkable feat on one of golf’s toughest courses.
Spaun’s victory was punctuated by a pair of unforgettable shots. First came a perfectly placed drive on the short par-4 17th, setting up a birdie that gave him the solo lead. Then, under a gray sky and light rain on the 18th, he drained a jaw-dropping 65-foot putt — the longest of the tournament — to close with another birdie.
That emphatic finish made Spaun just the fifth player in U.S. Open history to birdie the final two holes en route to victory, joining legends like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Jon Rahm.
His 72 was the highest final-round score for a U.S. Open champion in 15 years, but the stat that truly defined his win was the 401.5 feet of putts he made over four grueling days.
It didn’t start like a fairytale. Spaun carded a front-nine 40 on Sundaydropping four shots back. Rain poured down, and hope looked fleeting. But a 1-hour, 37-minute weather delay changed everything.
Recharged, Spaun responded with a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-5 12th, then took the outright lead with a 22-footer on 14. The rest was history.
While Spaun surged, others crumbled in the downpour. Overnight leader Sam Burns made two double bogeys on the back nine and shot 40 coming in, finishing tied for seventh.
Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre both briefly tied for the lead before faltering. Hatton bogeyed his last two holes, while MacIntyre’s birdie on 17 to reach 1-over wasn’t enough. He watched from the locker room as Spaun sank his clinching putt.
Spaun’s story was as much emotional as athletic. His Father’s Day began with a 3 a.m. pharmacy run for his sick daughter, Violet. “She was vomiting all over,” he said. “It was kind of a rough start.”
Spaun’s win is not just a personal milestone but a powerful reminder of grit, resilience, and focus under pressure. With multiple top finishes in 2025 and now a major title, Spaun is cementing himself among golf’s elite.
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