OAKMONT, PA. The four major championships in golf determine ultimate greatness. But when one plays in a US Open the benchmark for lasting success comes down to two pivotal words —
Patience and resilience.
J.J. Spaun’s opening several holes in the final round put him immediately to the test. The need to push through a number of concerning situations required a clear connection to both personal patience and utter resilience.
It is that resolve not to give up that was the deciding factor in Spaun winning the 125th US Open title at storied Oakmont CC. The accomplishment was especially noteworthy given it was only his second appearance in the event.
Spaun began the day one shot behind the 54-hole leader Sam Burns.
His start to the round featured three consecutive bogies and five over the first six holes.
Hardly inspiring golf.
For many golfers the perils of such a calamitous start could well have meant a hole too deep to dig oneself out of.
It was at that moment that Spaun remained resolute. Knowing full well that a US Open, particularly ones staged at Oakmont, can quickly mean a fluctuation of scoring, both low and high, in such tense moments. Remaining focused on the central task at-hand was imperative.
Spaun, as did all the players, had to deal with a suspension of play (just over 90 minutes) when heavy rain pelted Oakmont. Spaun’s restart commenced at the difficult uphill tee shot at the par-4 9th and it was that specific shot that proved a needed lift-off for the quality of golf he would produce from that point forward.
“The tee shot on 9, like my first shot back. That was the hole we got stopped on. I just flushed one, like a nice little cut up the left side. And I was like, All right, we’re back. I didn’t hit too many bad shots after that,” said Spaun.
The 34-year-old’s resurgence kicked into high gear when sinking a slippery downhill 45-foot birdie putt on the vexing green at the par-5 12th.
Spaun was then part of a five-way tie for the lead.
Another birdie followed at the par-4 14th from just over 20 feet.
A momentary retreat happened when he bogeying the par-4 15th but he remained vigilant in making a par at the demanding par-3 244-yard 16th hole.
When arriving at the uphill par-4 305-yard 17th hole the situation was totally front and center for him. Spaun would need to finish his round with either a birdie / par or par / birdie finish to secure a one-shot edge over Scotsman Robert MacIntyre who closed his play with a remarkable final round score of 68.
The tee shot at the uphill penultimate hole was set at 314 yards. Spaun’s tee shot was laser-like in finding the narrow entrance to the green leaving him 20 feet for eagle. He negotiated a short putt for birdie and a one shot lead going to the demanding 18th.
A par would secure Spaun the title. If he scored no higher than bogey a playoff with MacIntyre would take place Monday. The USGA announced late Sunday that the playoff would happen the next day given diminishing sunlight and borderline turf conditions courtesy of the wet weather the course endured.
Just as he did at the 17th, the tee shot at the 18th split the fairway reminiscent of what Dustin Johnson did in 2016 and what Ángel Cabrera did in 2007 in winning the US Opens in those years respectively.
Spaun’s approach from 205 yards found the green via a 6-iron shot but leaving him just over 64 feet. A most fortunate break happened when playing partner Viktor Hovland’s approach found the same area on the green but requiring him to putt first before Spaun.
Spaun watched intently as Hovland putted in order to gauge the proper speed. With rain falling more intensely, Spaun’s putt miraculously found the cup and the resulting joy between player and caddie had them embrace in a joyous hug knowing the championship had found its gutsy winner.
Spaun’s score for the final round was a two-over-par 72 and a four-round total of 217. His back nine total of 32 was just one shot behind the back nine record scored by Johnny Miller when claiming the US Open in 1973.
Given his share of bad breaks faced early in the round, Spaun seized upon his good fortune by intently observing Hovland’s putt.
“Yeah, Viktor, we kind of got a good line, a good read on the speed. I was more focused on how hard he was hitting it. I kind of knew the line already, but it looked like he gave it a pretty good whack because it started raining there for the last 10, 15 minutes. I just tried to pick my line and put a good stroke on it. I knew it was going to be a little slow.
“About eight feet out, I kind of went up to the high side to see if it had a chance of going in, and it was like going right in. I was just in shock, disbelief that it went in and it was over.
Yes indeed.
The tumultuous moment caused the large gallery to erupt as Spaun exited the green with a fist bump displaying both total joy and ultimate relief.
Patience and resilience.
When others blinked it was Spaun who pushed himself ahead.
The new US Open champion’s resolve showed the ultimate meaning of those two words with a tour de force finish at Oakmont.
Related: Scheffler secures top ten finish but much more was possible
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2025 US Open Championship Notes
Compiled by Elias Sports Bureau, Inc
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Final Round Notes
• For the 11th major championship in a row, the winner was either in first or second place after 54 holes. Spaun as T-2 entering the final round.
• J.J. Spaun is the third player to finish either first or second at The Players Championship and then win the US Open that year, joining Tiger Woods (finished 2nd at the 2000 Players and won USO) and Martin Kaymer (won the 2014 Players and USO).
• J.J. Spaun is the fifth US Open champion to finish birdie-birdie on the final two holes of the championship. He joins:
Ben Hogan, 1953 at Oakmont
Jack Nicklaus, 1980 at Baltusrol
Tom Watson, 1982 at Pebble Beach
Jon Rahm, 2021 at Torrey Pines
• Lowest Back 9 scores in the final round for the US Open champion:
1973 Oakmont CC Johnny Miller 31
1990 Medinah CC Hale Irwin 31
1951 Oakland Hills CC Ben Hogan 32
1966 The Olympic Club Billy Casper 32
1981 Merion GC David Graham 32
1986 Shinnecock Hills Raymond Floyd 32
1987 The Olympic Club Scott Simpson 32
2000 Pebble Beach Tiger Woods 32
2025 Oakmont CC J.J. Spaun 32
• J.J. Spaun’s final putt was 64 feet 5 inches – the longest putt by any player on any hole this week!
• Total feet of putts made this week:
J.J. Spaun 401.5 feet
Robert MacIntyre 399.8 feet
Matt Fitzpatrick 395.3 feet
• Best Back 9 in Final Round to win US Open at Oakmont CC
1973 Johnny Miller 31 -4
2025 J.J. Spaun 32 -3
1953 Ben Hogan 33 -2
• Best finishes by left-swinging players in the US Open:
1999 Phil Mickelson Pinehurst No. 2 2
2002 Phil Mickelson Bethpage (Black) 2
2004 Phil Mickelson Shinnecock Hills 2
2025 Robert MacIntyre Oakmont CC 2
2006 Phil Mickelson Winged Foot GC T-2
2009 Phil Mickelson Bethpage (Black) T-2
2013 Phil Mickelson Merion GC T-2
2017 Brian Harman Erin Hills T-2
• Largest 54-hole deficits overcome to win the US Open. Robert MacIntyre started the day 7 strokes back.
Arnold Palmer 1960 Cherry Hills CC 7
Johnny Miller 1973 Oakmont CC 6
Walter Hagen 1919 Brae Burn CC 5
Johnny Farrell 1928 Olympia Fields CC 5
Byron Nelson 1939 Philadelphia CC 5
Lee Janzen 1998 The Olympic Club 5
• Scottie Scheffler has failed to break par in any of his last 9 US Open rounds, dating back to the final round in 2023 at LACC.
• In reference to Robert MacIntyre, no lefty has ever won a US Open.
• In reference to J.J. Spaun, no US Open champion began his final round with three consecutive holes over par.
