Australian golf player Adam Scott stood on the brink of winning the US Open title – but misfortune intervened in the final moments.
In a rollercoaster finishing act that'll go down as one of the wildest U.S. Open championships in history, JJ Spaun emerged triumphant, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with an unforgettable comeback. The unheralded American wondered why he hadn't been invited to the party earlier, as Adam Scott, a potential contender for the crown, crumbled under the pressure.
The drama unfolded in the sun-soaked greens of Pennsylvania, where Spaun was baptized by fire, warming up for a spectacular Sunday showdown. After starting the final round toe-to-toe with Scott and just one shot shy of Sam Burns' lead, Spaun's game went south, dropping five strokes in the opening six holes and trailing by five.
As mother nature chose that moment to unleash a 96-minute weather delay, one had to wonder if the Gods were playing a cruel prank on our hero. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Spaun dusted himself off, psyching himself up for the ultimate challenge of reclaiming his spot at the top of the leaderboard.
With rivals stumbling left and right in the face of the fearsome Oakmont Country Club's defenses, the world's best players were reduced to week-day hackers. Despite closing with a less-than-impressive 73, Spaun's resolve never wavered. In the most stylish and spectacular fashion imaginable, he sealed the deal with a 64-foot birdie putt - the longest of the week - at the last hole.
Adam Scott couldn't catch a break. Having come so close in a play-off against Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship back in March, Scott's dreams of a second career major were crushed as he stumbled to a tie for 13th place with a disappointing 79 in his final round.
Alas, the 44-year-old Scott's bid to become the oldest U.S. Open champion since 1990 fell short, as the weather conspired against him, causing him to bogey the 14th and 15th holes. His dreams of glory evaporated in a cruel half-hour after the resumption of play, washed away by the rain that had plagued the tournament from the start.
Meanwhile, Soccer Aid 2025 continued to captivate the nation, with Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney leading the charge for the Three Lions. The England teen preparing to make his Ashes debut garnered interest, while fans couldn't help but poke fun at the newly-renamed 'Man of the Match' award in the Club World Cup. Spaun's historic win surely overshadowed these events, earning him the spotlight with his masterful performance on the golf course.
[1] Griffiths, T. (2025). JJ Spaun clinches U.S. Open championship in style. [online] Golfweek.com. Available at: https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2025/06/20/jj-spaun-wins-us-open/
[2] The Associated Press. (2025). J.J. Spaun wins US Open with 64-foot birdie putt on final hole. [online] Nbcnews.com. Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jj-spaun-wins-us-open-64-foot-birdie-putt-final-hole-n1384148
The extraordinary victory of JJ Spaun at the U.S. Open was the talking point of the day, eclipsing the ongoing Soccer Aid 2025 and the Club World Cup's new 'Man of the Match' award. Basketed in the sun-soaked greens of Pennsylvania, Spaun's triumphant win was etched in history with his record-breaking 64-foot birdie putt at the last hole. Meanwhile, the weather news reported a 96-minute delay that may have conspired against Adam Scott, who stumbled to a tie for 13th place and bid farewell to his dreams of becoming the oldest U.S. Open champion in three decades.
