Contestants Engaged in Intense Competition at the 2025 US Open Tennis Tournament... Here's Our Assessment of Their Resilience
Oakmont Country Club played mercilessly on Sunday, and after a prolonged rain delay, various contenders could have walked home with a US Open trophy. However, following hours of suspense, J.J. Spaun was the one who claimed victory, securing his first Major title with back-to-back birdies at the 71st and 72nd holes.
What's often overlooked about Spaun's round is that he started the front nine on Sunday with dismal form, standing five-over-par after six holes and seemingly far from contention. Yet, a remarkable rally on the back nine, including four birdies and a bogey on the last seven holes, earned him a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre.
MacIntyre, the left-handed powerhouse, produced a career-best finish at a Major tournament with a two-under-par round of 68, securing a solo second position. Firing a level-par 35 on the front nine, MacIntyre then birdied the 14th and 17th for a two-under 33 on the back, resulting in the joint second-best round of the day.
English golfer Tyrrell Hatton also found himself in contention, eventually finishing tied for fourth. The former Ryder Cup team member struggled initially, bogeying the first hole of his final round, but recovered with a birdie at the fourth. Although Hatton battled back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th, his tie for fourth remains his best Major Championship finish to date.
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J.J. Spaun - 9.5
Spaun's final round began on a sour note, but following the weather delay, the ultimate winner looked unbeatable as he birdied four of his final seven holes. As he explained, he needed to "reset everything" during the rain delay, and he certainly did, with a 64-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole sealing his stunning victory[2].
Just fifteen minutes earlier, Spaun had driven the 17th green, putting his tee shot just 20 feet from the hole, the sixth closest tee shot on that hole all week. This incredible play earned him a score of 9.5.
Robert MacIntyre - 9
MacIntyre's outstanding performance netted him a career-best finish at a Major championship, carding a two-under-par round of 68.
Firing a level-par 35 on the front nine, MacIntyre then birdied the 14th and 17th for a two-under 33 on the back, securing the joint second-best round of the day. With two bogeys on the 1st and 2nd holes, MacIntyre nearly took home the US Open trophy for the first time in history[4].
Viktor Hovland - 6
At the midpoint of the tournament, Hovland seemed like a frontrunner. However, a sluggish start to the final round and an eventual three-over-par score meant he finished in third place.
Four bogeys and one birdie on the front nine signified a rocky start for Hovland, who was two-over for the championship at this point. Despite a level-par back nine and some impressive play, his lackluster front nine ultimately sealed his destiny[3].
Cameron Young - 7.5
At the RBC Canadian Open just days earlier, Young found himself in the thick of the competition, eventually finishing two shots shy of the playoff. A strong performance at the US Open saw Young card a level-par final round to finish at three-over-par, four shots behind Spaun.
Young began aggressively, birdieing two of his first three holes. Although he endured three bogeys in a four-hole stretch, a strong back nine kept him within striking distance of the title[3].
Tyrrell Hatton - 6.5
Hatton's start to the final round was less than ideal, bogeying the first hole. However, he recovered well with a birdie on the fourth. A bogey at the 10th caused some concern, but a birdie on the 13th offered renewed hope for a strong finish. Unfortunately, two consecutive bogeys on the 17th and 18th ultimately dashed Hatton's dreams, leaving him tied for fourth[3].
Carlos Ortiz - 6
Ortiz, who has enjoyed a successful 2025, finished tied for fourth at Oakmont, marking his best finish in a Major Championship. With two bogeys on the front nine, Ortiz righted the ship with a birdie on the 11th. However, a costly double bogey on the 15th halted his progress[3].
Jon Rahm - 8
Rahm's consistent play earned him a seventh-place finish at the US Open, marking back-to-back top 10 finishes in the Majors. Sitting level-par through 15 holes, the Spaniard then birdied his final three holes for an impressive score of 67, propelling him up several positions on the leaderboard.
While Rahm didn't have the firepower to challenge for the title, his performance in the Majors remains impressive, with recent T7, T14, T8, and T7 finishes in the big four championships.
Scottie Scheffler - 7
Despite battling consistency issues, Scheffler still managed to finish inside the top 10 for the eighth consecutive tournament. Needing a solid start to his final round, the World No.1 double-bogeyed the third hole, but birdied the fourth and sixth to even out his score for the day[6]. Two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine left him with a four-over-par total for the tournament.
Sam Burns - 4
Brens, who led for much of the US Open tournament, ultimately finished eighth due to a disastrous final round. The American began with a shaky three-over-par 38 on the front nine, but a birdie on the tenth sustained the hope of a comeback. Unfortunately, two double bogeys and three bogeys in his final eight holes resulted in a disappointing eight-over-par score for the day and a four-over-par total[3].
Adam Scott - 3.5
Scott, who was favored by many to win the tournament, carded a disappointing nine-over-par 79, finishing in a share of 12th, seven strokes behind Spaun. Scott struggled with his putter throughout the tournament, making one birdie, eight bogeys, and one double bogey, ending his hopes of claiming a second US Open triumph[3]. While the final results were not what Scott hoped for, his impressive play throughout the majority of the tournament has left fans excited for his future performances.
Spaun's remarkable rally on the back nine during the US Open included a remarkable play at the 17th hole, where he drove the green and, fifteen minutes later, made a 64-foot birdie putt, earning him a score of 9.5 in golf.
MacIntyre, the left-handed powerhouse, produced a career-best finish at a Major championship, securing the joint second-best round of the day with a two-under 33 on the back nine, when he birdied the 14th and 17th holes.
