JJ Spaun secured his first major title at the US Open, winning by two shots over Robert MacIntyre in a dramatic finish at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Spaun’s victory was punctuated by an incredible 64-foot birdie putt on the rainy 18th green, sealing the win and bringing closure to a disappointing near win at The Players Championship earlier in March.
“Just to finish it off like that is just a dream,” the Californian reflected after the victory on Sunday.
The moment was made even more special as he celebrated Father’s Day with his two young daughters, who were by his side as he embraced the significance of his achievement.
“It was so cool to just have my whole family there on Father’s Day,” Spaun shared.
What began as a tense final round quickly escalated into chaos when heavy rains created puddles on the greens and fairways, prompting a 96-minute weather delay.
Despite the interruptions, Spaun remained focused, knowing he only needed to par the final hole to avoid a playoff but instead managed to sink the remarkable birdie putt.
As his putter sailed in the air with joy, he completed his celebration with a fist pump and heartfelt hugs with his caddie before walking off the green with his daughters.
The excitement intensified as Spaun reached the drivable par-four 17th hole, at which point he was level with MacIntyre, who had already finished his round.
Spaun unleashed a stunning 309-yard drive that put him just 17 feet from the hole.
Although he overshot the eagle putt, he calmly made the subsequent putt to remain in contention.
The golfer’s strategy centered around staying focused, as he explained, “I knew based off of, like, what the crowd was saying that I felt like if I two-putted I would probably win, but I didn’t want to look.”
The final day’s results left Viktor Hovland finishing in third place with a score of 73, three shots behind Spaun.
Cameron Young, and LIV Golf competitors Tyrrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz each posted scores of 70, finishing one shot back, while Sam Burns concluded a disappointing round with a score of 78, resulting in a five-shot deficit.
Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, turned in a commendable three-under 67, the best round of the day, but still ended the tournament five shots behind Spaun.
World number one Scottie Scheffler matched Rahm’s score, sharing seventh place alongside Burns.
Rory McIlroy, who started the day significantly behind the leaders, saved his best for last, carding a final round of 67 to finish at seven over.
Following his struggle to find form post-Masters, McIlroy expressed optimism about the upcoming British Open at Royal Portrush, stating the need for some time off to reset.
“I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven’t been there the last few weeks,” he admitted, looking ahead to rejuvenation before the major.
Spaun’s triumph at the US Open not only marks a personal milestone but also cements his place among the game’s elite, proving that perseverance can lead to extraordinary outcomes in golf.
With his first major secured, Spaun looks to build on this momentum and continue his rise in the world of professional golf.
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