OAKMONT, PA (93.7 The Fan) – JJ Spaun said there was a time where he didn’t want to be the guy in the spotlight. Spaun fought back with a 33 on the back nine to grab his first major championship, the 2025 US Open at Oakmont Country Club.
A shot out of the lead to begin the final round Sunday, Spaun had five fives to start his final day and then a bogey on the par three sixth. From there he finished two under with birdies on 12, 14 and 17 with a bogey on 15.
It was the tee shot on the par four 17th that was the difference maker. Spaun drove the green as the ball rolled to 20-feet for eagle. He was tied for the lead with Robert MacIntyre, who was already in the clubhouse. The 34-year-old would miss the eagle, but made the birdie to take the lead.
He wouldn’t stop there. He did what few have done, drove it in the middle of the fairway, hit it about 65 feet away and then drained the putt with the flag in as the American became the eighth player to win his first major at a US Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Tears ran from his face as he hugged his caddy and his wife and two children came down to the green as the Pittsburgh crowd chanted ‘JJ, JJ’.
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre finished seconds at plus one. Viktor Hovland with a final round 73 to finish plus 2 with Cameron Young, Terrell Hatton, Carlos Ortiz fourth at plus 3. John Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns, after a 78 on Sunday, finished seventh at four over.
Spaun played three years on the PGA Tour Canada and on the Korn Ferry Tour. This year he lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy in the PLAYERS Championship, finished third at the Sony Open in Hawaii to start the season, second at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches in March and sixth at the Charles Schwab Challenge in May. The 34-year-old from Los Angeles finished 50th at the Masters and 37th at the PGA Championship.
Spaun said coming into the tournament he felt like he had nothing to lose. And he left Oakmont with a life-changing win.
MORE TO COME