J.J. Spaun’s remarkable victory at the U.S. Open has etched his name into the annals of golf history, marking not only a personal triumph but a collective achievement for San Diego State University (SDSU).
Spaun, who drained a breathtaking 64-foot birdie putt on the final hole, claimed his first major championship with the longest putt made during the tournament. This remarkable moment adds his name to a conversation among golf legends.
“I’ll never forget this moment for the rest of my life,” said Spaun, reflecting on his unforgettable experience.
This win is considered one of the most improbable victories in recent memory. Prior to this championship, Spaun had only one other PGA Tour win, the 2022 Valero Texas Open, and he was not seen as a natural golfing prodigy.
“I wasn’t really groomed to be, like, a professional golfer,” Spaun admitted. “I didn’t get put through academies, I didn’t play the AJGA. I played local stuff.”
Ryan Donovan, the head coach of the SDSU golf team, spotted Spaun in junior tournaments and extended an invitation to join the Aztecs.
“I just thought he had great hands,” Donovan said. “He had a good demeanor, kind of a chip on his shoulder, kind of fighting against the world, and we like those kinds of kids.”
Spaun’s journey at SDSU was nothing short of impressive; he came in as a walk-on and left as a two-time All-American, winning five tournaments during his college career.
For nearly ten years, Spaun was a journeyman on the PGA Tour, grappling with his quest for consistent success. At a pivotal point in his career, he sought out Coach Donovan for guidance.
“Literally a couple of years ago, he called and was like, I’ve got a family now. Hotel life isn’t that exciting. I’m thinking about just hanging it up and being an instructor,” Donovan recalled.
The advice given to his former pupil was simple: begin to believe in yourself.
“I think he was just in a state where he was kind of lost and didn’t have a lot of support around him,” Donovan explained. “He wanted to put food on the table, obviously, for his family. I just said, you’re one of the most talented guys I’ve ever seen.”
Coach Donovan encouraged Spaun to continue pursuing his passion, stressing that he had to love what he was doing, which evidently resonated with Spaun.
In addition to Spaun’s monumental win, the U.S. Open also showcased another Aztec talent, 21-year-old Justin Hastings, who secured low amateur honors.
This marked a historic milestone as it was the first time both the U.S. Open champion and the low amateur hailed from the same university.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Donovan noted.
With the new recruitment cycle beginning, he teased, “Yesterday was the first day we can call 2027 recruits, so those phone calls are a lot easier.”
Like Spaun, Hastings also faced challenges early on, growing up in the Cayman Islands with limited access to golf facilities.
“Just a great leader, on and off the course. He was our captain all year. Everyone looks up to him,” Donovan said of Hastings, who proved to be a vital part of the team’s success through hard work and leadership.
Despite being provided with only nine holes of golf in his youth, Hastings blossomed into a standout player at SDSU, gradually realizing his potential.
SDSU’s golf program has shown a consistent pattern of finding talented players who may not fit the mold of traditional recruits but are hungry for success.
“They’re hungry. They’re excited. They don’t take anything for granted and just roll up their sleeves and work hard,” Donovan shared.
He added, “We just have that mindset of that bulldog, you know, not the favorite in the field, but we’re going to be competitive and compete at a pretty high level.”
With two prominent Aztecs making headlines at the U.S. Open, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hastings one day joining Spaun and fellow Aztec Xander Schauffele in celebrating a Major championship victory.
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